1. |
Equilibrium
04:49
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EQUILIBRIUM
Do you ever get the feeling
That there must be more than this?
We're told that it was ever thus
Is this something that we've mythed?
Cause life's not binary
It plays out in between
The zeros and the ones
And with time each extreme
Reverts back to the mean
To find equilibrium
I was working for the weekend
I was trying to make ends meet
I was going off the deep end
I was sleeping on my feet
Cause life's not binary
It plays out in between
The zeros and the ones
And with time each extreme
Reverts back to the mean
To find equilibrium
When I was growing up my mother said to me,
"Be careful what you wish.
Cause I've been to utopia
And it looks a lot like this."
Cause life's not binary
It plays out in between
The zeros and the ones
And with time each extreme
Reverts back to the mean
To find equilibrium
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2. |
I'd Like To See You Try
04:07
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I guess that I will never learn
but you’ve showed me
Actions speak louder than words
And you’ve showed me
Introduce me as an old friend
Don’t call for weeks upon end
You’d think by now that I’d be used to the cold light of day
But ‘round you still I hover
A planet undiscovered
Waiting for the day you train your telescope my way
CHORUS
Oh well I suppose
That’s just the way it goes
I know that you don’t want to still I’d like to see you try
Hear my silent plea
Spare a moment for the meek
It isn’t very likely still I’d like to see you try
Despite the fact that I’ve been spurned
You’ll find me
Fiddling while the city burns
Behind me
Maintaining the illusion
Is part of the delusion
That with time you’ll come to find that you really care
Hope might be only regret
That’s happened not as of yet
To it I cling, my safety ring,
I’m never letting go!
CHORUS
Oh well, I suppose
That’s just the way it goes
It isn’t very likely, still I’d like to see you try
Hear my silent plea
Spare a moment for the meek
It isn’t very likely still I’d like to see you try
BRIDGE
Give me half a chance I would show you
That what you’re missing
Is oh so very near
‘Til then I’ll remain
Just outside the frame
Don’t worry, you won’t even know I’m here
Introduce me as an old friend
Don’t call for weeks upon end
You’d think by now that I’d be used to the cold light of day
But ‘round you still I hover
A planet undiscovered
Waiting for the day you train your telescope my way
CHORUS
Everybody knows
That’s just the way it goes
I know that you don’t want to still I’d like to see you try
Hear my silent plea
Spare a moment for the meek
It isn’t very likely still I’d like to see you try
See you try, see you try – He’d like to see you try
See you try, see you try – He’d like to see you try
See you try
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3. |
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TRAIN HAS LEFT THE STATION
Oh Genevieve, what have I done?
On seventh thought you were the one
But I was too blind, too blind to see it
Minutes to hours, days into years
Too late for flowers, but not for tears
What would you say, girl if I begged you?
I found that piece of amber we discovered on the beach
A butterfly suspended inside, gorgeous, out of reach
Tell me, do you ever think of me?
Chorus I
Has that train left the station
For another destination
Or are you maybe still going my way?
We were young and I was foolish
Debonair, but clearly clueless
And I am only half those things these days
Ma belle cheri, I fear I erred
Life was sublime when we were a pair
What can I say? Trés desolé?
Oh Ginny dear, would you respond
If I suggest that we abscond,
Run to a place where no one can find us?
I’ll buy us a Greek island, I hear they’re going cheap
I’ll peel all your oranges, I’ll even make your tea
I will give you everything you need
Chorus I
When you say
That water’s under the bridge
Down the river and out to sea
Evaporated
Up into a cloud
And it’s rained down on you and me
I guess you mean
Chorus II
That that train has left the station
For another destination
All that’s left is to wave my goodbyes
I could run but if I caught it,
what would that accomplish?
And anyway a man has got his pride
Oh Genevieve, what have I done?
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4. |
Someday, Girl
04:54
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SOMEDAY, GIRL
You don’t know what you’re feeling yet
If it’s anger, sadness or regret
But any way, it’s gonna stay a while
So let it wash right over you
This melancholy pas-de-deux
And know one day you’re gonna find a smile
You thought he was the one
But now it’s come undone
And you’ve heard what some might say
But don’t believe a word, forget all you’ve heard
Everything is going to be OK
Chorus I
There’s someone, girl, living somewhere in this world
And someday, girl, he’ll find you
Of all the cards dealt out to youth
It seldom is the strongest suit
But right now it is patience that’s required
So hold your horses, draw the reins
And the chance will come again
For you to find the one your heart desires
You’ll have to suffer fools, the cynical and cruel
Do what you have to do, keep them at bay
Tell the ‘told-you-sos’ exactly where to go
Don’t you know that love will find a way
Chorus II
There’s someone, girl, living somewhere in this world
And someday, girl, he’ll find you
Until then, know that it’s not if but when
And when it does, you know it will be true
Life may not be a fairy tale
In which the good always prevails
But this much I know to be true
Love and love will go with you
Solo
Chorus II
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5. |
Lullaby
02:36
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Goodnight, sleep tight
It's time to shut the light
And pull the covers
Up to your chin
Close your eyes
And hear this lullaby
Your daddy is here to tuck you in
CHORUS
The sun has gone
Away to rest ‘til dawn
Tomorrow's another day
Count some sheep
They'll help you go to sleep
And dream of everything that is good
Of butterflies,
Balloons and sunny skies
And foxes padding their way in the woods
Hear the breeze
It whispers in the trees
To wish you a nighty night
Musical Break
The moon will rise
So high up in the sky
To watch over you tonight
Goodnight, sleep tight
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6. |
Just Because You Can
02:41
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CHORUS
Just because you can
Doesn’t mean you should
Just because it feels right
Doesn’t make it good
It’s taken me a while
But now I understand
Don’t do the things you do
Just because you can
In the beginning
There was Adam and there was Eve
They knew the ground rules
And still tried to deceive
I’m not suggesting
That I’m not the one to blame
It’s interesting
How some things never change
My sin is unoriginal
I know your love’s conditional
On believing me
When I tell you that . . .
CHORUS
Just because you can
Doesn’t mean you should
Just because it feels right
Doesn’t make it good
Girl, I’m begging you
Please tell me I’m your man
Don’t do the things I did
Just because you can
You know I get it
This is the bed I made
I may regret it
For that it is too late
I dare not ask you
What he has I haven’t got
For fear if I do
You might start and never stop
Before I lose you completely
Before you delete me
From you desktop, please know I understand
That it’s just because you can
OUTRO
Are we even yet?
Are we even yet?
Are we even yet?
Are we even yet?
Are we even yet? - I’ll let you know
Are we even yet? - When I say so
Are we even yet? - Cool your jets
Honey, now I get
That it’s just because you can
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7. |
Skin's Too Thin
04:47
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This is familiar, we’ve been here before
Same cloth on the table, same clock on the wall
Outside the window, the city’s asleep
She tosses and turns, it’s the company you keep
In this world gone wrong
Her only son
CHORUS
Her skin’s too thin, I can see right inside
And it’s killing her
Her heart’s on her sleeve
She wants to believe
You’re gonna pull through
It’s so hard to do, it’s so hard to do
You sit ‘cross the table, eyes on your plate
The silence hangs heavy, but there’s so much to say
Like ‘How did we get here?’, ‘You doing OK?’
She thinks if she asks you, you’ll just walk away
Like your father did, when you were a kid
CHORUS II
Your skin’s too thin I can see right inside
And it’s killing you
You think that you’re strong
You’re doing it wrong
I’m telling you
I know it’s hard for you
And all that you’re going through
You think she’s had all she can take
But have a good look inside
Tell her, I think you’ll find
She might bend, but boy she won’t break
Listen how loudly your praises she sings
Let her deflect all the arrows and slings
Then one day, God willing, not too long from now
You’ll be a man and she’ll be so proud
Of what you’ve become
Her only son
CHORUS III
Your skin’s too thin I can see right inside
And it’s killing you
You don’t want to wait
Until it’s too late
I’m telling you, you know that it’s true
You know that it’s true, you know that it’s true
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8. |
Dinner With Friends
04:41
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DINNER WITH FRIENDS
At times like these
When the news of the day
Brings us to our knees
It’s so good to come together
To share some bread
Take a turn on the loom that
Weaves the thread
The one that binds us all together
Vacations are rewound, we report the infirm
Children admonished, opinions confirmed
After fifteen minutes, twenty at most
Someone will raise a glass and there will be a toast
“To our gracious host!”
Chorus I
Dinner with friends – Who needs wine?
Dinner with friends – Red or white?
Dinner with friends – Twist my arm
Dinner with friends – What’s the harm?
The kids negotiate
The terms of the deal to
Clear their plates
Then they vanish from the table
And when they’ve fled
We divide the world
Into ‘own’ and ‘rent’
This is clearly necessary
Then after the meal, maybe fueled by the wine
Somebody says something
That crosses the line that you thought
That you’d all drawn
Together
You stop for a minute it’s suddenly clear
That fear you’d been thinking was getting near
Isn’t near
That fear
Is here.
CHORUS
Dinner with friends – There are limits
Dinner with friends – So it would seem
Dinner with friends – There are limits
Dinner with friends – To our humanity
It doesn’t get any better than this
Does it get any better?
Follow your conscience or follow your bliss
It doesn’t get any better
Than this
Musical Break
CHORUS
Dinner with friends - Erst kommt das Fressen
Dinner with friends – Und dann die Moral
Dinner with friends – Wir haben gegessen
Dinner with friends – Also, schauen wir mal
Does it get any better than this?
It doesn’t it get any better
Until our conscience is ahead of our bliss
It doesn’t get any better
Than this
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9. |
Tell Me Your Secret
03:37
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Tell me your secret, it couldn’t be that bad
I made you a promise, you know I’ll understand
Everything’s gonna be OK,
Everything’s gonna be OK,
Just not today
CHORUS I
Everybody knows just what to do
Everybody that is except you
And they won’t show you
‘Cause they don’t know you like I do
Standing in the cold
With your open toed shoes
You came to the city
Where you could grow your hair
And no one would notice
Nobody would care
And damn if it didn’t work out that way - Yes it did
And damn if it didn’t work out that way - Just not today
CHORUS
Everybody knows just what to do
Everybody that is except you
And they won’t show you
‘Cause they don’t know you like I do
Standing in the cold in your open toed shoes
CODA
I never said I
Wouldn’t break your heart
Couldn’t break your heart
I never said I
Wouldn’t break your heart
I couldn’t break your heart
And I . . .
Tell me your secret
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10. |
Berlin Blue
04:03
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I came in the summer
The city had bloomed
It was so beautiful
The same went for you
History was done
Ours had just begun
The first time I saw you I knew
It had been revealed
My fate was sealed
There was nothing I could do
Berlin blue
We holed up in Pankow
Our honeymoon suite
A one-room apartment facing the street
The world kept on spinning
It left us behind
But it didn’t matter
We paid it no mind
We were forever
Darling, I never
Thought that this wasn’t true
We’d go on and on
Singing our song
Didn’t think we’d change our tune
BRIDGE
Some things just happen
But others, others you choose
What starts off as freedom
Becomes a noose
History’s still lurking
Out in the street
It’s there in the ghost wind
Blows cold from the East
Down in the Kneipe
The drinkers complain
That everything’s different, that everything’s changed
Cold though it may be
I hoped that, baby
Our love it would see us through
I placed a wager, not minor but major
Heads you win, tails I lose
Berlin blue
Berlin blue
Berlin blue
Heads you win, tails I lose
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John Paul Kleiner Toronto, Ontario
John Paul Kleiner is a singer/songwriter working in the field of melodic, guitar-based melancholy. Intercity is his first
solo album and it was produced in collaboration with Neil Clark (ex-Lloyd Cole & the Commotions).
Musically the album evokes touchstones of guitar-based pop/rock from the popular era (Beatles, Pretenders, Smiths, Commotions, U2), while its lyrics arise out of our present day.
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