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Temporary Archipelago

by David Roos

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1.
By Heart (free) 04:44
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“Boise will be glad to get those boys, believe me. They’ll be a good thing for their school out there. They’ll show the other kids what’s what! Maybe they can start a judo class in school, eh? How ‘bout that… Oh boy, I don’t know. Sure love to see those boys…” The telephone will keep on ringing Until it’s taken down from the wall Even when it’s boxed up and given to another Friends and strangers will continue to call When the snow finally melts from a red brick driveway You find all the papers that were missing since last fall The photos and the captions always read the same way (as they do today) The passing of a month or more rarely matters at all Time to tie up all the boats in all the land-locked counties We’ve been expecting this thing from the very start Time to splice up all the wires, and cart away the downed trees We’ve all been learning this by heart Take little steps, and hang on to the wall Give a sideways glance to the ones you know Take stock, take cover and take care Take a little bit and always ask for a little more to go
2.
Figure Eight (free) 04:42
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Take a little piece of kitchen string Left out in the open Little tracks will lead the way Around in two tight circles Hypnotic figure eight Take a minute to check the back screen door In the morning, the boxes will be waiting And the color will return to the hills And we’ll be singing Glory, glory be with you Take a little piece of kitchen string Tie it up between two empty cans Hold it to your head and listen A little trick that I have learned Take the time to breathe, find the station If it sounds like all is as expected Then the color will return to the hills And we’ll be singing Glory, glory be with you
3.
Platform (free) 04:18
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Chain link surrounds this station platform, and it’s raining It’s a miracle, to even be standing here All’s right in god’s heaven, so we can all breathe easier It’s a miracle, it’s a miracle It’s not a common reaction It’s far from what we’ve come to expect Rain hits the edge of a barrel, and the drops go rolling to the ground Some get taken back up to the clouds tomorrow Drum beat echoes longer than you’d think it would We could all use a little sleep somewhere It’s a miracle, it’s a miracle It’s a common misconception It’s far from what we’ve come to expect Something’s gone missing, and it can’t be found St Christopher, please have a look around Look way up high, look way down low Point me toward where, I’ve forgotten to go
4.
Temporary Archipelago 03:57
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There’s a gap in the fence, the sheep might get out They could find their way out onto the road, there is no doubt But with no car, there’s really no place they can go And with no sense of direction, they’ve got to take things kind of slow There’s a tear in the heavens, the stars come spilling out Pouring out into the night black in a tumbled cloud They form a constellation overhead, a temporary archipelago There’s an avalanche warning, so we better keep our voices low Line up two points to see your way clear There’s a certain kind of quiet that comes only in the wintertime Only when the crows have gotten all that’s left, and the roots have dried Settled on a branch, in a beak, we are listening for the sound That will set us into flight as we leave some feathers on the ground
5.
East Loretta Place 03:40
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I dream about practically the same place nearly every night The walls are always just the same, but I’m always finding additional doors The same architectural detail The same geometric tile on the floor The same light pattern as it moves along the ceiling From the kitchen window to the locked front door Light up the stars, begin the demonstration One more time for me The captivation of location The same chords played in a different key I guess I might be thinking bout this all way too much I guess I might be taking it all in too deep It’s just a place that I used to know a bit about And I notice that I’m not missing any sleep The same architectural detail The same geometric tile on the floor The same light pattern as it moves along the ceiling From the kitchen window to the locked front door Light up the stars, begin the demonstration One more time for me The captivation of location The same chords played in a different key I dream about practically the same place nearly every night
6.
Breadcrumbs 03:59
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Trail of innocence and luck There are no breadcrumbs, no signs The piece that stands out from the rest Will sleep well at night With well-connected friends and family With stacks of money, and some time The part of you that recognizes the part of you that knows the heart that looks for what is seen No matter what you think you see No matter what you thought that you would be It's hard to catch up with yourself And not feel like you're something else Disconnected Misrepresented Trading the content for the frame With narrow margins to be sure The shadows lighten with the heat Driven to another compromise
7.
Big Life 04:43
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You will go to the moon Letters will be sent With tiny pictures of you You'll be smiling You will live in a big house At the end of a wide street A street that shares your name You'll be so happy too In your big life Your very full up, ever-charming, never-ending big life Better save that napkin and that spoon And that drawing Your biographers will be needing all of that too They'll be so happy Well don't worry, it's OK No one ever remembers their dreams Anyway
8.
Pine Tree Shadow 03:19
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Make it last for another season Try to save, cause you never know Count the stars as you fall away Feed the sheep as they walk on water Tell the time with a pine tree shadow Give a name to the first thing you see tomorrow Renovate, Decorate, Tolerate, Commiserate Resonate, Recreate, Reverberate, Amalgamate Isn't there a word in English To mean what I want to hear Isn't there some phrase in Spanish Is there something I can follow Cause I never read it clear through Without skipping to the end Never look for different meanings Never look back New moon phase, different wind direction Surfboard, Telepathic, U-turn, Venerable Wave-length, Xylophone, Yosemite, Zoo-keeper
9.
Died On A Rainy Sunday 05:30
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More than half of the time, it’s no coincidence It’s hard for things to happen that way all on their own Whether someone’s pulling the strings to help us to make sense of this There’s always an extra plate waiting at home There’s always an outside chance things will be different this time There’s sometimes a gallon or two hidden somewhere With the rain falling in full measure, it isn’t the forgiving kind After half the sky has fallen still unprepared But if you died on a rainy Sunday Or if you bargained for another ride Found a way to stay until Monday Or even if you tried To gather up your sons and your daughters Gather what has helped before Maybe this one will be worth the bother if you pay a little more It’s always worth the time that it takes just to ask around It’s always worth at least just one more knock on the door Take another empty box to another empty town It’s always worked out just fine before But if you died on a rainy Sunday Or if you bargained for another ride Found a way to stay until Monday Or even if you tried To gather up your sons and your daughters Gather what has helped before Maybe this one will be worth the bother if you pay a little more But if you captured all their flags before sunrise You might be sleeping in their beds that night You could be dreaming of a new revolution By the time you turn out the light And if you’re tired of the endless glory And if you ache for some other force You could be carried down a different river You could be carried down a different river
10.
A Cluster Of Separate Sparks 05:12
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When asked about funny stories A little slice of your life To make those who are crying, smile I try to remember when you were smiling I try to remember that Technicolor memories, left to others It’s lots of fun, til somebody gets hurt Cabinet full of blue and green, and unopened bottles Disregard the medicine and always stay on the alert Shepherd show me how to go Cause this hillside is so steep How to gather, how to sow And how you can feed sheep If you can’t remember A cluster of separate sparks Headlights on another highway Sleeping rabbit painted on the moon Familiar prayers whispered in your ear nightly And you memorize the rhythm of the words And you recognize the parts that you have learned Shepherd show me how to go Cause this hillside is so steep How to gather, how to sow And how to you can feed sheep If you can’t remember A cluster of separate sparks Headlights on another highway Sleeping rabbit painted on the moon Familiar prayers whispered in your ear nightly And you memorize the rhythm of this world And you recognize the patterns you have heard
11.
For Some Red Beans 03:58
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Eight or nine planets lined up in a row Yes, they are waiting We all want to learn what we already know We are waiting We've already been where we all want to go Stars on the ceiling, glowing in the dark Another song in E minor Ends before it starts Table full of aces, kings, jacks, and queens Trading hearts for diamonds Trade Manhattan for some red beans Stand in line, wait and see Take your place, wait your turn Take another number, make another choice Stars on the ceiling, glowing in the dark Another song in E minor Ends before it starts
12.
Notes From A Tattooed Man 05:50
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Some people tend to expect more Some people try to forget Some people try to stay realistic Keep storylines easy to comprehend You fancy yourself Some kind of pirate But I don’t see a parrot And I notice you got two legs Sailing back home From a juniper island A little bit of extra cargo That has long since slipped your mind And do I see a ship inside that bottle A model Of the thing that carried you away All you’re missing is a hidden message with a plan Your treasure map with notes From a tattooed man Some people need to read the last page first Sometimes it’s just best not to guess Some people like to solve mysteries Without settling for less Take your striped shirt Turn it into a sail Take your black and white flag And hang it from a nail
13.
Curiosity 03:53
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What is this I see An impediment, a barrier, a borderline What if it’s made of only Sandbags, and a bamboo pole I should just pass it by Break the stick, close my eyes But I am curious, and I have a little time to kill I am curious, inquisitive I am certainly interested Don’t you look at me Cause I am not the one you’re looking for, No, I just really couldn’t be I keep a regular pace Mark things out in 4/4 time No syncopation, no edgy rhythm Just steady your finger, hold your breath, and press the key But I am curious, and I might have a little time to kill Curiosity Vinyl, cassette, 8-track, or LP Chronologically Or in random rows Maybe it was made in Viet Nam Maybe it was found in Marrakech Maybe it was mined in West Virginia Maybe it will be, maybe it will be Maybe it was given to somebody else’s mother Maybe it was stranded with nowhere to go Maybe it will stowaway, keep out of our site for a while Maybe it will be, maybe it will be Curious, and inquisitive I am certainly interested
14.
A New Language 03:28
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Change your name and lock the door Hide from your neighborhood Learn a new language or two So you can really be misunderstood And what’s really good now What really seems to help out such a lot To keep looking back over your shoulder Pay no attention to where you’re ‘bout to walk Sometimes I might stutter when I talk Sometimes I might not But these days it’s getting to be a little less about Who I am now, more like who I never was Sometimes I might stumble when I walk But that doesn’t keep me From wearing my new shoes My hightops, my runaway boots
15.
Ladybird, Fly Away Home 03:15
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Four score, and seven year ago Back when things really mattered – long before the war Walked a cow to school – little brother was the Earthquake Baby Seven seas, seven wonders – no waiting line Seven brides for seven brothers – yeah, that’s what we ordered Now you wanna know – what is this really, what is this really Now you wanna know, really wanna know Now you wanna know, really gotta know Asking everyone – what is this really Mrs. Krimble’s Fairy Cakes – Aquafina water Little fuzzy furry head – shaped just like an otter Performing for a squirrel on a fence – with your bear trap bark box If you got a problem, park yourself right here And give me one twenty – yeah, for every hour Cause you know I wanna hear, wanna hear all about it Wanna hear all about it, really wanna hear Now I wanna hear, really gotta hear Cause I think you know, I wanna hear all about it Finish what you start – yeah, never leave it hanging Put a dime in the cup Always tip your caddy (Ladybird, ladybird fly away home…) Never leave for tomorrow, what you can lose today Tiny planets formed – just as we were warned Powder monkey ran away – right back to the farm The walls were covered in newspaper, cause we didn’t wanna paint ‘em Cover up the old color – cover up any sign of wear or tear Add an extra layer, maybe two Hey that’s what we’re here for Ladybird, ladybird fly away home Ladybird, ladybird fly away home Fly away home, cause you know you kinda wonder You know you kinda wonder
16.
Next Exit (Ghost Station) 04:14
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Underground ghost town, city of light No one’s at home as the wheels roll by Broken blue tile instead of sky Doors stay shut, don’t even try Nine stations on the line, only stop at eight Reconfigure it, and recreate This in wood, in moss, in fire Build a better model, get the tracks a little higher Subterranean dotted line We’ve been here before Subterranean dotted line We’ve been here before You don’t need a ticket You don’t have to mind the gap
17.
Counterfeit Or Colorblind 03:57
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Can’t imagine diving any deeper There’s nothing left under the water today I’ll come up to the surface Slow as the slowest breath Just close your eyes and everything will be OK Since we started on this, It was always either one thing or the other Since before you and I were born, The only choices here are counterfeit or colorblind Change the channel, change the weather Take what’s left, and then give it right back Memorize the ways, the rules, the color of the currency Just close your eyes you’re sure to really fit right in Take away the neon sign Take away the timing and the certainty Take away what hasn’t been nailed shut Leaving just the counterfeit or colorblind Since we started on this, It was always either one thing or the other Since before you and I were born, The only choices here are counterfeit or colorblind Change the channel, change the weather Take what’s left, and then give it right back Memorize the ways, the rules, the color of the currency Just close your eyes you’re sure to really fit right in Take away the neon sign Take away the timing and the certainty Take away what hasn’t been nailed shut Leaving just the counterfeit or colorblind
18.
Every Good Boy Deserves Novocaine 04:19
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Something followed us Centralia down to Castle Rock Caught a ride, won the roll, started in with naming names, And in the end-- it just gave right out Started noticing, it wasn’t too predictable When playing games the rules would change And everyone would just sort of give right out You know This was never authorized It got written up But was never realized And by the time the next state line Turned up on our map, and rolled under our wheels, there was quite a scene, that left quite a mess An albatross around a neck, a twisted rabbit’s foot a lock of some kind stranger’s baby hair Tethered to missing rearview mirror All at once Out the door and back again All good men Following the caravan Every boy Deserves a piece of cake An extra spin Don’t forget the Novocaine Meanwhile the miles miss the wrecking ball Quiet chess sets sitting on the edge of their zebra seats Venice Beach to Pasadena Bakersfield to Joshua Tree Ventura strip malls close real early Don’t forget to time it right—keep your cash pocket handy When the red light shows up the next time You can’t walk a straight line No matter what’s been chosen Every boy Deserves a little piece of cake A bonus replay An extra shot of Novocaine And it might be too late, it just might be too late All at once Out the door and back again All good men Following the caravan You know This was never authorized It got written up But won’t come back the next time
19.
Year Or The Rabbit 03:52
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Transistor radio, big twister on the way Fill the tub with drinking water, yellow sky today Didn’t see it coming, didn’t see where it went Holding pillows on our heads, hiding in the basement Golden morning glory, golden yellow Lucky rabbit foot, hanging on a silver ring Rainbow colored soft paw, keep away the bad thing Lucky little kid, terrified and tragic Lucky little kid, not so lucky rabbit Golden morning glory, golden yellow Only black and white, year of the rabbit Only one station, kinda wish that we had it Silver bottle rocket, we’ll fly it up to the moon Fire up the batmobile, keep it all right in tune
20.
Pinata 04:38
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Before I drown myself in a river of fire Before I lose my way in a river of smoke I will tell myself, tell myself I am dreaming I will throw myself, throw myself a rope And I think it just all might be so But I think too you just don’t never really know If I take my time, I can count myself lucky If I take some of yours, I can sleep well-blessed There’s always hope, but I’m not looking In those lines, lying faded, flat and pressed And I think it just all might be so But I think too you just don’t never really know You hang from a string in the shape of a cow And the little blindfolded kids come one by one Candies and streamers and puddles of punch When the tail’s on the donkey, the bottle is spun The mom’s are all humming, they’re fixing your lunch The clock’s stopped on the wall where the angels were hung In the end, when they turn the lights out In the end, we’ll all be marked down But half price or full, it’s still a bargain In this river of fire, you will never, never drown
21.
The Late Show 03:48
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Just in time for the late show The rainy sidewalks walk right inside the old moon's as hollow as that cold day in June but not as far and not hung quite as high no it’s never done up just right I will know as well I will know as well When the ocean fits inside of a coconut shell I will know as well Running from that sleeping yellow dog unpredictable, but can turn on a dime You can come for what is offered but never ask for a better price things much better if you’re just honest at night Only steal things in the daytime, only when you’ve got light I will go as well I will go as well When they’re crossing the wires as I’m ringing the bell I will go as well Cross the street to cross the yard Shortcuts are always best At least, If the truth be told When a river runs by you Till it’s over and out And the other one will never stay dry They’re only two things that make that bird fly
22.
Packed Lightly 04:26
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It’s good to – keep it packed lightly It’s best – to keep both hands free I try to – at least sometimes But I know – I can’t always It’s good to – be right where you are Steady in your mind – and geographically Standing on your feet, and breathing -- your own air Saying your own words and not somebody else’s Take it all, or else let it go It’s pretty hard to get another chance Take lots of time, to choose it wisely It’s pretty hard to get another chance It’s nice to – empty out your pockets At the very end of – a very long day It’s good to – count up your keys And sometimes – throw half away Take it all, or else let it go It’s pretty hard to get another chance Take lots of time, to choose it wisely It’s pretty hard to get another chance It’s good to – keep it packed lightly It’s best – to keep both hands free I try to – at least sometimes But I know – I can’t always It’s good to – be right where you are Steady in your mind – and geographically Standing on your feet, and breathing -- your own air Saying your own words and not somebody else’s
23.
Depth Perception 03:54
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I never see what’s really going on Never notice what appears right in front of me Always unfinished, and missing a piece A wall gets in the way, and there’s something I don’t see My new goal in life is written In black and white on the back of a bus Some words misspelled, and questionable punctuation Half of the story, is close enough Can’t really see any distance Can’t really see a sign up in the sky Missing more than depth perception Looking out at the world With a patch over my eye Time to get going I guess what time is it, what time do you got The Christmas tree has fallen from the weight of that star Now it’s strapped to the top of the neighbor’s car Silent night holy night The room is loud and the halos have fallen a bit When you turn out the light, the stars are too heavy Singing with a voice that isn’t even mine Can’t really see any distance Can’t really see a sign up in the sky Missing more than depth perception Looking out at the world With a patch over my eye Can’t really see pattern or color Can’t really see the difference it’ll make Seeing more than I believe in Staring straight at the sun With a patch over my eye
24.
Candy For Breakfast 03:42
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It’s kind of funny now -- I have a credit card I have a wallet full -- And I have no curfew Yeah, I have everything -- Don’t have to make a choice And could have so much more And still I don’t want candy for breakfast Cause to tell the truth I really think I’m needing something more I used to like the sugar But I want to take this further What I used to want is spilled out on the floor Sometimes I miss California, when I’m driving through New Mexico And then I start missing where I’ve never been the place I told myself I would never go If you second guess -- What you’ve always known before You can always take it back -- To just what it was Incorporate -- All of your true desires Into just one big dream -- I don’t want everything Don’t give me candy for breakfast -- Don’t want to feel that useless I really think I’m needing something more I used to like the sugar -- But I want to take this further What I used to want is spilled out on the floor If you got candy for breakfast -- Don’t put me on your guest list Cause I think I’m needing something more I used to like sugar But I need more

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released January 20, 2009

music, lyrics, instruments and vocals - David Roos

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David Roos Palm Springs, California

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