Gardener Hands was released February, 2011. All songs written by Jeremiah Craig.
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Lyrics and Lyric Pics
Out with the Old
I climbed up to your doorway with my hair all strewn about
And you came out from your mirror and began to shout
You handed me a poem and I tried to read it aloud
But with unknown allusions, it just brought me down
And your strange shadow child, knew but would not tell
As I was still tossing dimes into the wishing well
And it was not until the day of the feast
That I came down to succeed to say the least
Yes I feel okay
I didn’t need you anyway
It’s no different from what I’m told
It’s in with the new and out with the old
I walked in your garden all covered with bliss
Because my taste buds blossomed with your gentle kiss
But now you put on makeup and climb down the tree
I am skipping stones alone, feeling fancy free
Sometimes I see your snake, slither through the streets
And I know that you can see me but our eyes never meet
And anything that I sing will never bring you to tears
For I’ve seen the spiders crawling from your ears
Yes I feel okay
I didn’t need you anyway
It’s no different from what I’m told
It’s in with the new and out with the old
Viaduct
I broke my suitcase on the viaduct and Miss Pross said she’d sew a new handle on
I met Ramona in the waiting room and we decided to get lost in the gamelan
Then she took me up to the attic to show me how she was really feeling
And we laughed when I lost my shirt and my foot fell through the ceiling
I wave, wave, wave from above
I wave, wave, wave at you, love
I wave, wave, wave from above
On the viaduct
I saw Baloo shaking them trees as I was crossin over the interstate
He was reaching for the prickly pears, tryin to put on a little winter’s weight
He told to stand upon his shoulders
Cuz the ones at the top are the sweetest
And I know first hand, just what he means, yes I can feel it,
I can feel it too
Chorus
I make no haste
For if it goes to waste
It was meant to perish now
I make no haste
I take a good taste
One that I can cherish now
One that I can cherish now
And the on-lookers can think whatever they please, but to me it feels just as real
Maybe even a little bit better, see I got no problem with frozen custard meals
And I’ll probably stay up here quite a bit longer
See I’m just liking it this way
Yes I think I’ll like it just fine, staying up here the rest of my days,
rest of my days
Chorus
Catalyst Kiss
The Saturday girls work their melatonin
Who have no question to where I’m goin
And I stick around for the catalyst kiss
But it don’t mean anymore than this to me
Ah the jersey girl with the worn out eyes
Moves too quick to get on the high rise
She jumps back with the catalyst kiss
And a few notches on my wrist go free
I wake heavy and I feel like a poem
Being discussed by the scholars and laymen
Each time they feel it they add a few lines
Which changes the theme and the thoughts they were framing
But that’s it’s nature by design
The catalyst kiss
The valley glows when the sunset shows
Where I kept to myself without parole
When the Wet Merlin’s left the shore
I was questioned like a prisoner of war
Your skeptic breath held you around
Without the effect of keeping me down
Cuz then we felt the catalyst kiss
I could feel it on your pilgrim lips
I wake listless and I feel like the grass
That lays next to the path that inebriated caravan
Each time they pass they walk out of their lines
Which keeps them straight on their thoughts and their plans
But that’s it’s nature by design
The catalyst kiss
The hymnal sound, the songs of the wind
Felt like your voice and how you would sing
With fingers stretching to a hesitant high
Summoned me over to stand by your side
But my colonial days are too far behind
To draw up the worry, draw up the signs
Makes me think what I might have missed
So I’ll just lay with the catalyst kiss
I wake guilty and I feel like a thief
Who stole the wintertime diamonds of an old widow
And kept them for their timeless lines
Memories of days in the park to frost on the window
But that’s it’s nature by design
The catalyst kiss
I’m still heavy and I feel like a poem
Being discussed by the scholars and laymen
Each time they feel it they add a few lines
Which changes the theme and the thoughts they were framing
But that’s it’s nature by design
The catalyst kiss
Almost Yesterday
Well it was raining most of the night
And there no need to put up a fight
Cuz it was almost yesterday, and you know its not my way
Guess I need to ramble on
Ain’t no reason to wait around
When all you’re doing is dragging me down
Yeah there’s no reason to stay, when you look at yesterday
Guess I need to ramble on
I can hear follies, they call for you
And I know that you can hear them too
Yes it was almost yesterday, and you know its not my way
Guess I need to ramble on
Well it was raining most of the night
And there no need to put up a fight
Cuz it was almost yesterday, and you know its not my way
Guess I need to ramble on
Oh let me go don’t you know, I’m on the run?
Don’t ask where he stays, I sent him away, I knew you would come
You cannot find him anywhere touched by the sun
He is weak and for now I’m the only one
Take you see, makes no difference to me, empty jar on the fridge
You won’t find it here, in the mirror, or stuck in the fringe
I keep it safe and away from all harm
‘Useless to fight,’ you say, well I guess I will just use my charm
The witch does not make me flinch with all of her attempts
I don’t care for what she shares, potions and dull talks in her tent
I’d like to be free and unable to see these stains
I used to try but I don’t know why for the effort is vain
I wish to stray from this way and feel the warmth
For its cold and gets as old as the snow in the north
I carry on through the dawn with my heavy chain mail
Getting tired, my tea is cooling and my bread getting stale
I must show the boy where to go once I return
When I have walked through fire and I don’t get burned
I will return scared and callused for him
From following my follies and my whims
Do you remember where I used to live?
Where the juggler would always lay his hat
It was there that I sang to you on tape
If there’s one thing I’m sure you’d remember that
Now the snow was melting all along the quarter mile
And you listened to the critic down the hall
You ate up everything that was said by that emo child
When he doesn’t know me, he couldn’t tell the truth at all
In the spring, warm, late, April night
On the floor with the potion wearing thin
I knew that nothing would ever come about
It was just the start of all of my useless whims
I heard the chains and the links that you had stretched
And I knew that it was time for me to stray
And when came the time for the last kiss
We did, but as you leaned in I walked away
And if the reporter wants to write a year in review
He had better go out and buy some extra pens
Lines and lines of the same story with a different setting
And you can just guess how it ends
So I pick up my lunch box and I start away
Cuz here we go again
Well it was raining most of the night
And there no need to put up a fight
Cuz it was almost yesterday, and you know its not my way
I can see light now, from the dawn
Grudges that the Demons Lack
Moving through the streets at a half past twelve
Mama says to watch yourself
With the dirty demons all right behind
Tryin to get you in good time
You’re moving slow heavy on your back
Carrying grudges that the demons lack
They just come up a-doin their job
Looking for your soul to rob
Can’t you see through your bionic eyes?
As the sun begins to rise?
You’re losing everything along the way
On your way to a brighter day
Oh is this how the heavens meant it all to be?
Is your love so weak that it shivers in the breeze?
Oh is this how the heavens meant it all to be?
Is your love so weak that it shivers in the breeze?
Don’t you know you let everything fly away?
Now you ain’t got no great disguise
Pulling up the collar to cover your eyes
Yes you’re moving slow, heavy on your back
Carrying grudges that the demons lack
Oh is this how the heavens meant it all to be?
Is your love so weak that it shivers in the breeze?
Oh is this how the heavens meant it all to be?
Is your love so weak that it shivers in the breeze?
Don’t you know you let everything fly away?
Man in the Suit of Mirrors
With a customized charm, he rolls into the room
His three hounds at his back
Entering with him is the light of the moon
To light the dark within you showing you what you lack
He has no title of power but assumes the air
It is mysteriously allowed
It is his suit that makes him familiar to you
And it brings your guard down
Now, tell your mother to take you back home
Tell you mother my fears
Tell your mother to take you back home
And be afraid of the man in the suit of mirrors
There was an old country ball in the Smithson barn
A wealthy family ’twas said
In his usual attire, under another name
Into that ball he tread
Gerald Smithson owned the mine down the hill
He held parties as he pleased
After a little ale, he told the man in the suit
That his wealth made him sleep easily
The man in the suit found young Mary Smithson
The trophy that made Gerald’s spouse
Mary had never met someone quite like herself
And soon offered him a tour of the house
She giggled and flirted as he jested his way
Through different rooms she would lead
Til they came to the bedroom where he sat on the bed
It was a good mattress indeed
Tell your mother to take you back home
Tell your mother my fears
Tell your mother to take you back home
And be afraid of the man in the suit of mirrors
Gerald Smithson went looking for his wife
In dire need of a waltz
He went to the house and he called from downstairs
He heard only the echos of his calls
Climbing the staircase he went to his room
A cool breeze as he opened the door
His mattress was thin and there were only a few dollars left
Mary lay bare on the floor
She Knows Where To Go
All of the trials soon are through
She’s left there and a dark avenue
So far from home, left all alone
She knows where to go
The old corner bench calls her name
She don’t have to face that shame
She knows where to go
She knows where to go
She knows where to go
But she’s to young to know
that she knows where to go
Her old friends, the sailors are all gone
And others have stowed away before the dawn
Dark clouds will soon make their rounds
She knows where to go
The bench offers no protection from the rain
She don’t have to face that shame
She knows where to go
Chorus
To face this curse for the first time hurts the worse
But she won’t lose just look at the clues
She longs to find a new place
Without finding any lines to trace
Her past behind, she has the time
She knows where to go
She don’t have to deal with that pain
She don’t have to face that shame
She knows where to go
Chorus
l’Homme de l’Eau
I found you by the lake there
With nothing to forsake there
And in your eyes I began to wade
I talked to my brother
About the sighting on the water
And we knew there was no other
Explanation that could be made
I did not go home
I went through the motes all alone
But they were already at the chapel
You whispered in my ear
Said exactly what I feared
But I stayed near
Knowing what was fragile
Well I think I know the plan and it’d be grand
Oh when the night falls I will still stand tall
But I would still like to know
Would you send me an invitation when you leave l’Homme de l’Eau?
Would you send me an invitation when you leave l’Homme de l’Eau?
I was sitting on my railing
And I knew that I was failing
But I never give up after the first glance
I knew something wasn’t right
I felt it through the night
Then I saw the light
Now I think I know the circumstance
The gypsy king and queen
Were both in my dream
And you were there too
It was through the thickest mist
I saw my name on the list
I woke up at the kiss
And got up with all the clues
Well I think I know the plan and it’d be grand
Oh when the night falls I will still stand tall
But I would still like to know
Would you send me an invitation when you leave l’Homme de l’Eau?
Would you send me an invitation when you leave l’Homme de l’Eau?
And I feel that you’re not so far away, I need to see you night and day
And oh how our eyes played, it made me think you wanted to stay
But I would still like to know
Would you send me an invitation when you leave l’Homme de l’Eau?
Would you send me an invitation when you leave l’Homme de l’Eau?
You say your love is a rambler and his love is in his trade
How can he hold your hand after the shattered promises his made?
I see you on the stairs and in the doorway now is where you stand
With your bright smile and your gardener hands
But now I’ve had too much and I just feel high
I keep my eyes pointed towards the clear blue sky
And with every thought that you turned around in my head
It just keeps spinning, thinking about what you said
And now you know exactly where I stand
Its up to you, you got it all in your hands
But there’s still one thing I am all confused about
If it’s so important, why then do you stay until the rooster shouts?
And the sun shines on the other side, isn’t that the way it always is?
You still haven’t unpacked the boxes, yours or his
When the bells ring at midnight, will you be happy where you are?
Or would you rather be someplace else, but still under the same stars?
I remember in the dark when you took me by the arm
And I led you away from the expensive harm
But now I have to slouch with you heavy on my mind
Hoping I can see you again, in good time
Would you send me an invitation when you leave l’Homme de l’Eau?
Would you send me an invitation when you leave l’Homme de l’Eau?
Caught in a Muse
Well here I’m floating, I’m caught in a muse
With so many words now, I don’t know which ones to choose
But I don’t think it matters cuz I really don’t think that I can lose
Maybe it was the harlot that made me act this way instead
And maybe it was my impatience that brought haste to what I said
I’m trying not to care but it all keeps running through my head
How I woke up in the afternoon with no worries on my mind
I looked on over and the sun really didn’t need to shine
It just had nothing on that smile so fine
As I finish up now I’m trying to keep it loose
And I don’t think that with it I’ll be tying my own noose
I just make my way through the day trying to keep myself amused
Nights and Weekends
Thirty-Five Thousand in debt, so many regrets he can’t count them on his hands and toes
Another late notice from Alice the mail lady and she’s got eyes for him to cure his woes
She says how ’bout I come over tonight it looks like you’re in need of a good time
At first he declines but then she flashed a Benny and it changed his mind
Alice was nothing special, she looked like a pear in a plastic bag
And after a few decades of driving mail, places of her began to sag
After he accepted the offer, his face turned one of the deepest shades of red
A big smile came to her face, she touched his cheek and then she said
You don’t need no candles, you don’t need know wine
you don’t need your bed made up with those linens so fine
I’m only asking of you for just one thing
He said, it’s good but in the future
Nights and weekends is the time to call
The night was heavy on him, as he got ready for the arrival of Alice
And even though he really didn’t have to, he shaved to have a nice smooth phalice
and when the night was over she said you know I got some friends who’d be into this kinda thing
You need help and you can help them speak up boy now what do you think
You don’t need no candles, you don’t need know wine
you don’t need your bed made up with those linens so fine
If they ask for ya they’re asking for just one thing
He said you tell them
That nights and weekends is the time to call
He got himself out of debt with no regrets except for one but he got that cured
It was all for alice on her route everyday, she was out there spreading the word
He was booked tight for the first two years, that is until he raised his price
Now you better have big money if you want to head on over to his place tonight
Now he buys the candles and buys the wine
he’s got his bed made up with those linens so fine
And if you call him you want just one thing
But remember that
Nights and weekends is the time to call
Freedom to Love
Old men parade on the side of the road and ask you to embellish their signs
Against a union they think they own and say there a rules to bind
Well I don’t know to much now, but I know there ain’t no crime in love
I also know no one is concerned no one below or above
We are free to love, yes we are free to love
Free to love who ever we please
And I’m bored of all this tradition a little love is what we need
Beneath the sun and on his pulpit his heart is as cold as he stands
Half the time he ignores his own words and the other half just follows the plan
Well who are you to decide who we can love? Who are you to state the way its gotta be?
Why don’t you take the time you spend on hate and spend it with your family
We are free to love, yes we are free to love
Free to love who ever we please
And I’m bored of all this tradition a little love is what we need
Don’t you stand in the doorway yes we are coming through
Cuz its our time and soon our time will be on its honeymoon
yes we are free to love, free to love, free to love
yes we are free to love, free to love, free to love
Well I don’t know to much now, but I know there ain’t no crime in love
I also know no one is concerned no one below or above
yes we are free to love, free to love, free to love
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