1. |
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Darrin and Danni picked me up that Friday night.
Englishman opened his shed just after 9.
Jupiter shone like a bloody ruby in the sky,
so I said, "set it up, we're Andrew & the Valentines."
Hitting up bars where I'd dated the mayor's sister twice.
The world is small, you've got your friends, you don't need your own ride.
I was living on pilsners and fresh cut wedge french fries,
so I said, "serve it up, we're Andrew & the Valentines."
Had a friend, dropped out of grad school after barely even trying,
cleaning toilets for beer money, and waiting to die.
Nearly succeeding a couple times,
left it all at the door for Andrew & the Valentines
Was a mid-Feburary, fahrenheit 59.
We were counting the days of a calendar hung by the Mayan.
Darrin said it must have been the end of times,
so I said, "don't stop now, we're Andrew & the Valentines."
I said, "don't stop now, we're Andrew & the Valentines."
I said, "don't stop now, we're Andrew & the Valentines."
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2. |
Esperanza
04:01
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Lately I'm forgetting what train I'm riding on,
hardly seems to matter anyway.
Any place seems better than where I just came from,
and the time has come to greet a brand new day.
She was long and tall like a drive down the shore
and the Hudson County skyline,
but we can't get there now from here.
Looking at Peter and listening to Gwen,
saying, "break her fall, don't break her neck!"
Her name was Tristessa,
and that's how I feel.
The ocean of her eyes found my heart.
Had to be her poem but I tried too hard to rhyme,
her name was Esperanza, and she was never mine.
I'm trying to remember where I am today,
and the knowledge from before that still remains.
Going two steps forward only slowed me down,
so I think I will enjoy my stay.
Her name was Tristessa,
and that's how I feel.
The ocean of her eyes found my heart.
Had to be her poem but I tried too hard to rhyme,
her name was Esperanza, hope she's doing fine.
Now in time her hair like her eyes grew dark
like the 20th of December.
I was holding on to 10pm.
Looking at Spider-Man and pining for Storm,
singing bom-b-bom-b-bom--
--take me dancing--
--bom-b-bom-b-bom--
--some good pizza--
--bom-b-bom-b-bom--
--don't need no pen pals--
--bom-b-bom-b-bom--
--a positive role model for my dog--
Her name was Tristessa,
and that's how I feel.
The ocean of her eyes found my heart.
Had to be her poem but I tried too hard to rhyme,
her name was Esperanza, and she was never mine.
her name was Esperanza, hope she's doing fine.
her name was Esperanza, she's doing fine.
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3. |
Sing Me Down
02:22
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Kept repeating, "never give up,"
but in my mind there's a greyhound bus.
Could see some old friends if they're still up,
or make it home in time to face the morning rush,
so get up, get up.
Come on, come on and sing me down.
Come on, come on along with me.
When there's nothing more to say,
Come on and sing me down.
They'll probably tell me, "let it all go,"
but saying all those words doesn't make it so.
I'll end up driving in someone else's car,
where the exits on the Turnpike are few and far between
you and me, I'm on the edge, could use some company,
so come up, come up,
and come on, come on and sing me down.
Come on, come on along with me.
When there's nothing more to say,
Come on and sing me,
sing me down this winding road,
sing me down for all to see.
When there's nothing more to say,
Come on and sing me down.
Sing me down this winding road,
sing me down for all to see.
Way is dark but I can see,
when you sing me down.
Come on and sing me down.
Come on and sing me down.
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4. |
Ragged Glory
03:52
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The sky had turned a shade of pink,
the wind was coming in.
The year was young, the autumn sprung,
so I swiped myself in.
She was sitting by herself, so I reached out for her hand.
She was wearing ragged glory, couldn't find a better man.
She directed my attention to
the symbol on her skin.
Below her belt, I felt the means
to make her planets spin.
So I raised a standing army to defeat the Scorpion.
She was wearing ragged glory, couldn't find a better man,
she was wearing ragged glory, couldn't find a better man.
We walked the Maple Highway just
to find out where it led,
but we got lost, our arms were crossed
behind our heads.
So I took her to her leader, but I might have made a stand.
She was wearing ragged glory, couldn't find a better man.
We wrote each poems
the direction of the wind.
With my words I sought to serve
her fire within.
But when it came to prose she was a Libertarian.
She was wearing ragged glory, couldn't find a better man,
she was wearing ragged glory, couldn't find a better man.
We sat awhile in the shade,
the distance closing in.
Moonstruck, I pushed my luck,
and our wheels did spin.
And to this day you still can find our bodies in the sand.
She was wearing ragged glory, couldn't find a better man.
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5. |
I'll Take the Road
02:52
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Why do you walk when the world is right beneath your toes?
Why do you seek when the world is right beneath your nose?
I'll take that road, whenever it bends my way,
and I'll give that ground on the spot where you ask me to stay.
Why don't you speak all those self-evident truths you hold?
Silence is golden, away from the mighty scroll.
I'll take that road, whenever it bends my way,
and I'll give that ground on the spot where you ask me to stay.
Why slow down? You've got to express yourself.
Why make sure? You've got to express yourself.
Why think of them? You've got to express yourself.
You can express yourself.
Why do you sleep when the world is waking up with you?
Why do you pray, when God looks and thinks like you?
I'll take that road, whenever it bends my way,
and I'll give that ground on the spot where you ask me to stay.
Why slow down? You've got to express yourself.
Why make sure? You've got to express yourself.
Why think of them? You've got to express yourself.
You can express yourself,
so come on, express yourself.
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6. |
Melody Hill
02:18
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I don't drink enough to observe dry January,
so it's January now, and I'm drunk
(ONE,TWO,THREE,FOUR!)
--and the train from Bay is always running late
and the Interstate is artery clogging and the
curbside is mostly made of brine and the
path to town is blood pressure raising,
so I lay my bones on Melody Hill.
The sky was new it was a simple tune,
and we'll drink a cup of kindness yet
with lovely Melody Hill.
Now work was the curse of the drinking classes
as she took off her glasses, her hair curling down.
From my belt to her clasp, to the small of her back,
it was open and honest and
easy,
so I lay my bones on Melody Hill.
The sky was new it was a simple tune,
and we'll drink a cup of kindness yet
with lovely Melody Hill.
And we'll drink a cup of kindness yet
with lovely Melody Hill.
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7. |
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Are you a renegade saint?
Are you a leader of men?
Are you a seeker of truth?
Are you the chosen one?
Can't stand the hating so
I'll just keep on waiting through
the Blizzard of '21.
Could we go down with the ship?
Could we dance with the dead?
Could we rise with the day,
reflecting the light of the sun?
Can't stand the hating so
I'll just keep on waiting through
the Blizzard of '21.
Can't stand the hating so
I'll just keep on waiting through
the Blizzard of '21.
Will I find my way home?
Will I be some kind of friend?
Will I be out on the road?
Will I love again?
Can't stand the hating so
I'll just keep on waiting through
the Blizzard of '21.
Can't stand the hating so
I'll just keep on waiting through
the Blizzard of '21.
Are you a renegade saint?
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8. |
Pay It No Mind
03:01
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Warm night, cool drink,
good book, jazz bass,
it’s November bright sky at night.
You look my way, and it’s a heat wave,
but I will not long for the shade.
I’ll just keep sifting and you just keep drifting
and one day the stars will align.
Out in the ocean, the big ones floating,
but you’re beautiful, so pay it no mind.
Spinning and turning,
your dress keeps on twirling,
barely there anyway.
Days getting shorter, leaves turning orange,
it’s Thanksgiving dark in the day.
I’ll just keep sifting and you just keep drifting
and one day the stars will align.
Out in the ocean, the big ones floating,
but you’re beautiful, so pay it no mind.
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9. |
Mid-May Hymn
02:21
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The summer came in cool this year,
a Brooklyn breeze whispered in my ear.
From the rooftop of a friend,
I searched the skyline for a fitting end.
The trees were sprouting emeralds and the river
gave me back my sight,
and the sun was just a blurred bright orb,
too afraid to stand up for its rights.
I met her at a question mark,
at the space where every sentence starts.
Leopard skins and cinnamon,
with eyes like true containers of a heart.
We danced and I was seeing a beginning
that I could see was mine,
so I guess all that I'm trying to do
is ask if I can see you again sometime.
I guess all that I'm trying to do
is ask if I can see you again sometime.
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Andrew Nieporent Verona, New Jersey
Folk-infused singer-songwriter. Solo but increasingly band- and collaboration-oriented. Mostly acoustic but electric- curious. Host of the Fine Grind Open Mic Night. Veteran of thousands of local shows and open mics. Hardcore fan of Bruce Springsteen, Cat Stevens, Tom Waits, and Conor Oberst. Flattered to sometimes be aurally mistaken for John Darnielle, Colin Meloy, and Jeff Mangum. ... more
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