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Strum

by Ken Stephenson

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1.
Cabin Fever 04:54
I’ve been locked up in this cabin for a year or so High on this mountain, just waiting for the sun to shine I’ve got provisions for the winter. A bag of nuts and berries. Some books and a case of whine. I’ve been standing by my attitude I’ve been thinking of a stand I’ve been talking to my solitude I’ve been working...well I've been working on a plan..... The rain it just continues. The cold won’t go away If I could only get away from here for just one sunny day. Locked inside this cabin with a mission to accomplish Escape is only wishing, this is where I stay. I wait for the rescue vehicle to come climbing up the hill Up along the creek, along the track beside the mill Pushing away the snow from in front of it As it rounds the bend As magnolias bloom, my clouds move on. This job is at an end.
2.
Wake Me Up 04:30
I'll stand aside, it's one of my best things. Take what you want I can't recall what's what. There's a ghost in this house. Can you hear what it's saying. In case you thought it was me, well it's not. So wake me up when it's all over. I really want my time to sleep. So wake me up when it's all decided and Tell me what I lose and what I can keep. I know I can trust you to do what's best So pack up what you want. I'll get someone to throw out the rest. There's a ghost in this house distant in the gloom, We've both heard all the songs sung sad in this room
3.
In there they sit at the mahogany table Talking to their mates in the leather chairs. Talking about the bulls, talk about the bears , Talking about everything, but mainly talking about their shares. The friends took what they needed and a whole lot more saying "Don't know when we'll need it but you never can be sure It's better to be safe than to be sorry" was their cry and No one really noticed or stopped to question why. Out here where the dust never settles. Out here where the wind always blows Out here it'll really test your mettle. "..never seen it coming." You only stand and watch it go. Out here we thought that that it would last forever And the man from the bank, he was one of our friends. Until he turned up late one day saying I'm only doing my job Sorry folks but this is where it ends. Out here where the dust never settles. Out here where the wind always blows Out here it'll really test your mettle. "..never seen it coming." You only stand and watch it go. This land it always looked like god's own country. There always seemed to be so much to share Look to the horizon, there was always more to see. There was plenty out there, more than enough for you and me. Out here where the dust never settles. Out here where the wind always blows Out here it'll really test your mettle. You never saw it coming. Out here where the dust never settles. Out here where the wind always blows Out here it'll really test your mettle. "..never seen it coming." You only stand watching it go. Watching it go....
4.
You know you're a hard act to follow. You've left a gap that I don't know how to fill. Past months have been hard to swallow. I missed you then, I miss you still. I hope you find what you're looking for. ...like that snake who shed it's skin and moved along. Well the door is always open if you're ever back in town. No questions asked - right or wrong. I know this winter's been a hard one for both of us. The decision's made - there's nothing more to say. Been through so many long nights, I've just lost count, Now we're looking for the longest day. So now you've got your new town and your new friends. You've got no history to get in your way. And I hear that the weather has been a little kinder And if that's what you want - what can I say.
5.
In The Mail 04:04
Letter came today looking just like me, Tired and worn without a place to be. Just one address as far as I could see. No regrets just a memory. She said I thought it time I dropped you a line Are you doing well? I hope you're feeling fine. You know I got that job I was always talking about But it works me late so I don't get out. I tried to call but my voice would break And seeing you is a risk I couldn't take. You know the past don't go by bus or rail But it's overdue when it's in the mail. So I searched my heart for that telltale sign. When there's no new love it's not that hard to find. Came as some surprise when I found no trace Of her tender touch or her smiling face. Tried to call but my voice would break, Drove past her door until really late. Deep down inside I knew I'd failed, So I wrote it down - put it in the mail. Letter came today and it laid the blame. I guess you never lose some pain Took just one word to make me understand This last goodbye is for another man. I tried to call but my voice would break And seeing you is a risk I couldn't take. You know the past don't go by bus or rail But it's overdue when it's in the mail. Yeah, it's overdue when it's in the mail.
6.
I still see the two of us together When the winter wind blows cold You can't get lost as long as you remember If you know where the highway goes I may never find out where it is But I might reach you with a drive-by kiss And it's wrong to think about forever When you know it doesn't last But if you try to run away from your memory You can't ever drive too fast You may never find out where it is But I might reach you with a drive-by kiss And it's a sad way to say hello But if you sleep it off, will you let me know? Say good-bye but don't let me go I may never find out where it is But I might reach you with a drive-by kiss. When I pass by where we used to live, I say goodbye to part of me I miss, With a drive by kiss.... Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing
7.
I thought he was gone and forgotten, Stepped into a tunnel underground. Burned so brightly for just a few short years, then nothing, not a sound. Suddenly a voice on the telephone came fading and crackling down the wire Saying I've seen him, I'm sure it was him, he’s not looking to retire. And he breathes and sees another day with the southern gentlemen A band of outlaws in suburban disguise saying they’re riding again….riding again. It's 17 years since I heard your voice and you still talk in that familiar drawl. You’re looking older, but hell so am I, it makes no difference to all.
8.
So you finally found your acres full of wild horses. So you’ve saddled up and you’re riding them all night Through the valleys and up over all the mountains And it seems that they’re not putting up a fight. Do you remember saying you could judge a man without him knowing. Don’t even need to hear him talk. Just say ‘hi, what’s your name and what’s your star sign?’ Then walk away saying ‘We’re not aligned’ You’ve been riding on that superstition highway, Hoping to feel the wind in your face. Asking yourself ‘why won’t anybody see it my way?’ Just not seeing that you won’t let anybody join the race. And now you’re trying to lose some stranger sleeping on your floor. Wants you to help kick-start his life He arrived with just a suitcase and a world of trouble, But he won’t leave until the signs are right.
9.
Finley’s Furniture and Electrical was a shop in our little town. It sold TVs, radios, refrigerators and a 3 seater vinyl lounge And old Mr Finley, he knew everyone around. He knew everything that happened in that little town. And he knew all of us kids though he could never understand How we could spend all our time and our money, just hanging round Hanging round the back of his shop, it was the best place we had seen. It was our Pandora’s box, it was a treasure chest of dreams. It was the place where he sold those hi-fi records. Sounds that came from far away. And when we listened to those hi-fi records It made this town not such a bad place to stay. Well we could conjure up a picture of playing in these bands We’d be touring the world playing to all the fans. And maybe one day, with luck and a little more We’d make a record and they’d all come to hear it In the back of Finley’s store.
10.
Well I remember when these streets were full of interstate plates And the town was full of faces from the road. Saying fill up my tank and check the oil While I get a burger and a drink to go And then you watch their tail lights disappear. They were busy days indeed but they seem such a long time ago. We don’t see those faces around here anymore. They’re stopping at the McDonalds out on the freeway Bypass this town and this run-down store And now all around the shops are closing down. And the cities at the end of the road Are calling out my name, telling me to go To those cities at the end of the road There’ll come the day when I’ve got nothing to show I’ll have to take this dream and just let it go And that’ll be day one of starting again. It’s only a matter of time till I face the facts There’s not much to keep me around here anymore. I’ll be saying fill up my tank and check the oil I’ll go to Macs for a burger and a drink to go And you can watch my tail lights disappear. And the cities at the end of the road Are calling out my name, telling me to go To those cities at the end of the road

credits

released August 20, 1996

All songs - Words and Music by Ken Stephenson except

"Wake Me Up":
Words - Christopher Morgan and Ken Stephenson

"In The Mail":
Words - Angela Williams

"Drive By Kiss":
Words and Music - David Derby, Joan Wasser, Eric Masunaga, Kevin March. Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing


All songs: Vocals and instruments: Ken Stephenson
plus
Michael Bright: Guitar Solos on "Cabin Fever"," Finley's Furniture" and "The End Of The Road":
Christopher Morgan: Backing Vocals on "Wake Me Up:"
Jo Kelly Stephenson: Backing Vocals on "Drive By Kiss":
Neil Howell: Snare Drum on "Superstition Highway":




Recorded and mixed by Ken Stephenson at Back Pocket Recorders, 1996

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