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This City

by John Pippus

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1.
Some Days 03:22
Circling, looking for a place to land Safe harbour from the coming storm Forget about the scenery Does the weight of it all Make you feel small? Some days – you don’t feel safe in your own skin Some days – you’re back to being brave again Some days – you close your eyes and then Breathe the morning in and it’s another day Fell hard on your innocence Betrayed by what you thought was true It left no mark, you see no scar Does your memory Tell you how it will be? Some days – you feel the sun upon your skin Some days – it’s like you’ll never win Some days - you close your eyes and then Imagine the world on another day It’s just the way that it is The way that it goes The laughter and the pain That everybody knows There’s no shame in this It’s the price of being here We smile and we know We'll get beyond the tears Some days – you don’t feel safe in your own skin Some days - you’re back to being brave again Some days – you close your eyes and then Breathe the morning in and it’s another day Another day Another day
2.
There’s poison in the water And the air ain’t fit to breathe There are changes in the seasons All the prophets can agree Man is so resilient Always finding something new I read it in the papers So I guess it must be true I can see now That was my first mistake Barbed wire at the borders Cannot keep the hungry out The line of least resistance Leaves our future in some doubt Wars are coming steady now The marches and parades I only followed orders I admit I was afraid I can see now That was my first mistake Lying in my bedroom With the tv on Watch the world imploding We waited far too long Fifty ‘keys’ of rations And a loaded ‘44 Is going to have to hold me There’s a pounding on the door I can see now It was my first mistake I can see now It was my first mistake
3.
Sweet Regret 03:10
Many words are spoken To help us forget The chances we’ve been given And let slip through our grip But my life’s not over No I'm not done yet There’s still a little time For sweet regret My first was Suzanne With her long brown hair I asked her if she dyed it Coming up for air It was so long ago Funny how we met And when I think about her I have sweet regret Life is made of moments Some better than the rest Hold her in your arms Tell her what you love best My conscience is not in the clear I’ve made my mistakes And been the cause of too much tears When I couldn’t find the brakes But when it comes to living I got my feet wet And when the party’s over I’ll have sweet regret
4.
One and one is two And that is something that I know is true Are you lonely? Miss me only? Maybe you and I should sing Oh oh oh oh oh Oh oh oh oh oh Oh oh oh oh oh Hear you laughing, see you smiling That’s the love I see in you It’s enough to make me realize You’re the only one I need Oh oh oh oh oh…. Eighty miles to Portland Got Hank Williams whining low Half my life’s spent in this rig That’s one more thing I know Ordinary’s not the way I want my precious life to be Diamond oceans, Spanish sunsets Making angels in the snow I want to do everything in this world with you I want to spend my whole life with you Oh oh oh oh oh Are you waiting at your table? With the light on, patiently Will you open up your door? And let your love fall down on me Oh mama, oh mama, oh mama oh Oh oh oh oh oh
5.
I’ve got to get direction I’ve got to take you on Not hide behind the details Of who was right and who was wrong I’m going to be a better man But not because you said I’m doing it for us instead I’ll give up half the drinking But not the necessary lies I’ll show you where my heart is And I’ll look you in the eyes I’m going to be a stronger man But not because you said I’m doing it for us instead Your silence tells me more than I need to know If I call I’m scared you won’t pick up the phone I’m going to be a wiser man But not because you said I’m doing it for us instead I fill all my notebooks With these fevered, scattered lines While you fill all my waking moments And my distracted mind Not going to be a Superman Just going to be myself I’m doing it for us instead
6.
I find traces of you Scattered through my life In every corner of my room I see you On every inch of my body I feel you Inside and out You don’t think about me You just take what you want I would rather be left alone Than left lonely On every inch of my soul I feel you Inside and out We know ancient evenings And distant music too Love teases and leaves us alone I travel the length of your body Kiss every scar I can taste you even When we’re apart On every inch of my body I feel you Inside and out On every inch of my soul I feel you Inside and out
7.
Going Away 03:13
4:09 in the morning Hits without warning There are things I could’ve done differently But sooner or later I’m going away from this place I’m pulling for the government To finally face the news When you’re organized and want it bad enough There’s a lot of good you can do Sooner or later We’re going away from this place And it’s one-two-three No one dancing here but me Sooner or later Going away from this place Sometimes I’m shaking with confidence Counting all the stars in the sky I feel so lucky I never want to die But sooner or later I’m going away from this place We are paper millionaires Driving in our cars Contemplating Jesus but never getting too far Sooner or later We’re going away from this place And it’s one-two-three Are you dancing here with me? Sooner or later We’re going away from this place Hardly leave a trace Sooner or later We’re going away from this place
8.
The Ending 03:11
One of you is lying One of you don’t care You say that you don’t notice it But there’s sadness in the air You’re all alone now I can see a tear It’s the ending that you fear It’s the ending that you fear You hear the empty sirens The ladder doesn’t reach You’re caught up in your scary tale There’s no one to impeach You’re all alone now There’s nothing for you here It’s the ending that you fear It’s the ending that you fear Why not take another step? You don’t have to walk in chains You can gather up small miracles And give them back again It’s too late for “sorry” Trust has disappeared You’re standing in a hurricane Voices howling in your ears You’re all alone now I can see a tear It’s the ending that you fear It’s the ending that you fear It’s the ending that you fear
9.
There was a night so dark I could hardly see You talked to me awhile Showed me what could be Little things can mean so much Like a smile or a touch Little things can mean so much There was a time I didn’t care It was a long and lonely road Then I found another way Reflecting kindness shown Little things can do so much I’d be lost without your touch Little things can do so much Insulated from each other Standing in a line We could get a little closer If we had the mind Hiding in our shells Hungry for a glance We live our lives so carefully When we would rather dance Little things can say so much I’m a fool for your touch Little things can say so much
10.
It’s a complicated world There’s no one like us We’re the only animal that makes such a fuss We got WMDs and Toys ‘R Us Endless strip malls Kids named Gus Life is ‘leethal’ or ‘lethal’ There’s not much choice Just something to talk about to hear your own voice Why don’t we make war a ritual, a virtual game Put the generals in a ring To the winner goes fame Chorus, then audio sample ‘I say to you, yes we can’ Sometimes it feels Like all the songs have been sung The lights blink off, my work is done People stay home, afraid to go out They leave the TV on They text instead of shout And dance and sing And argue and make love We’ve got a choice, a voice A chance to be real But you gotta get up You gotta feel Chorus, with audio sample Forget about tribes, the ‘other’, us and them The divide that keeps us apart Find out for yourself One world, one fight One world, one fight Against injustice and hate and mindless greed Leaders can’t change us They can just plant the seed
11.
She is sweet as the morning Straight up like a deputy But she’s solo and lonesome And waiting for someone Oh lord could it be me? She can’t conceive of finding happiness Why can’t she just be free? I’m dying to know her But her love’s a mystery She is lost in the city Looking for a friend But the road that she travels Is so long and narrow And she’s hardly been around If only she could see I’m waiting here so patiently Holding out this well worn crown I’m dying to hold her But her love’s a mystery She is sweet as the morning Straight up like a deputy And she’s finding her own way Staying clear of the cliché Of an ordinary life Who would she be if she had never left her family? She’s dancing to her own familiar song I’m dying to hold her But her love’s a mystery
12.
I’m trying to write a song alone again I got some chords, some words, an end But I’m two parts kinda lazy And one part kinda mean No I don’t want to think about that There’s a girl and there’s a boy in love they say But he thinks about another when he’s away And she’s lonesome for someone she’s only dreamed No I don’t want to think about that No I don’t want to think about that How can you know it’s time to go? You can work it out they always say Love is so fleeting, love is so fair I reach for the touch of your hand But I'm falling through air I’m trying to write a song alone again I got some time, new strings to bend But I’m two parts kinda lazy And one part kinda mean No I don’t want to think about that No I don’t want to think about that
13.
This City 04:15
I moved to the city to leave my past behind Got caught up paying bills, worn down by the daily grind I can’t find an honest face with a soul like mine This city ain’t no friend of mine I dropped in here like a paratrooper from a plane I stopped in here like a stranger down from a train I can’t find an open hand to save my life This city ain’t no friend of mine Looking for an answer, turning over stones Going to carve my fate with my two hands alone Living in a place where shadows pass me by This city ain’t no friend of mine Seven crows around my head whispering my name Too much time in a basement room driving me insane How much can one heart stand? This city ain’t been no good friend of mine This city ain’t been no friend of mine This city ain’t been no friend of mine

about

Stuart Derdeyn, Province newspaper music critic says:
"This disc is varied and impressive. Pippus is a refined tunesmith with serious pop hooks."

Shelley Gummeson, Earshot music critic says: "It's beautifully raw and makes you feel like you're eavesdropping. Throughout these songs there weaves the smooth and expressive guitar playing of John Pippus."

Soundproof Magazine calls "This City" "...a folk roots gem".

credits

released June 6, 2009

Album design and photos: Allan Wong at Five Stones Creative
Mastered by: Dwayne Harder

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John Pippus Vancouver

"Reminiscent and harkening in spirit, in some ways, to Neil Young’s classic “Harvest,” Pippus and friends have made something much richer in tone and certainly more fitting for 2022.”

-Review of “Hermosa Star”, Great Dark Wonder
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