Get all 8 The Local Strangers releases available on Bandcamp and save 20%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of When We Were Honest: Live & Acoustic, When We Were Honest, Wonder (Natalie Merchant), One More Silent Night, Under Mistletoe, Take What You Can Carry, Borrowed Songs: Live from the Living Room, and Left for Better.
1. |
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© A. Zoli 2012 (ASCAP)
Oh Mr. Blackberry, you and your guilty thorns
Why you gotta hurt me so bad
I cut you down but then, you just grow right back in
You are the worst I’ve ever had
Oh Mr. Blackberry, you and your devious vines
You just keep crawling up my house
I cannot seem to find, a place you don’t entwine
I’m lucky if I even get out
I wish you’d find another yard to lay your damage in
I thought I made it perfectly clear
You are not welcome here
Oh Mr. Blackberry, my hands are red with blood
Trying to rip you out of the ground
You lay your roots deep, like an anchored boat at sea
I think my strength is giving out
If you don’t find another place to lay your weapons down
I’ll light the fire and watch you burn
And laugh as into ash you turn
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2. |
Uptown
03:45
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© M. Hart 2012 (ASCAP)
I remember how I'd measured me
In what more that a man could be
And keep you guessing all the time
The ability to cry with ease
And subtle sensitivities
Kept me hiding from the boys like it’s a crime
So female fascination
Came with late night conversations
Whispered through the cracks between the walls
And though you loved the company
You knew that they would come for me
Exceptions to the rules are bound to fall
And you were right
Maybe you were right
And now I’m uptown tryin' to make a dime or two
Who can find the time for virtue?
Who can find the time for virtue?
Gone uptown tryin' to make a dime or two
Who can find the time for virtue
Gotta find a way to
live up to me now
So I make a list of lovers past
And moments when I saw them last
And think what they would do if I appeared
And I wonder if their memories
Still conjure up the best of me
And why it matters most this time of year
Because the winter's
Frosted all my mirrors
And now I cant see
The stature of the man behind these fears
And now I’m uptown tryin' to make a dime or two
Who can find the time for virtue?
Who can find the time for virtue?
Gone uptown tryin' to make a dime or two
Who can find the time for virtue
Gotta find a way to
live up to me now
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3. |
Chase the Battle
03:25
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© A. Zoli, 2012 (ASCAP)
When it all began you were young and humble,
Not looking for a fight
But as time’s gone on and you you’ve paid your dues
On the stage every night
You’ve been looking for the answers
That you know do not exist
And you can’t say you didn’t want this
Why you gotta chase, chase the battle
Why you gotta chase, chase the battle
When one struggle ends you’re already looking for another one to begin
Why you gotta chase, chase the battle
Would you trade it all to release the burden
That you so dear?
All the noise and furry, hushed and humbled
All the silent fears
That you’ll never be what they want
Or be good enough
But you know, you’d crave it if you gave it up
Why you gotta chase, chase the battle
Why you gotta chase, chase the battle
When one struggle ends you’re already looking for another one to begin
Why you gotta chase, chase the battle
And I say, that’s not my way to live
Life’s too short, to waste time hating
You get what you get and what you got is this
You've just gotta try, you just gotta try
To make the best of it
Why you gotta chase, chase the battle
Why you gotta chase, chase the battle
When one struggle ends you’re already looking for another one to begin
Why you gotta chase, chase the battle
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4. |
Beneath the Weight
04:14
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© A. Zoli and M. Hart 2012 (ASCAP)
Dig me out of this hole
Scrape the soil from my face
Give me air to fill my lungs again
again
Beneath the weight
No uncertain fate
I can feel it break
Beneath the weight I carry for you
I can feel the walls closing in
I can taste the hate on my tongue
I can hear the song he sings
As he covers me up
As he covers me up
Beneath the weight
No uncertain fate
I can feel it break
Beneath the weight I carry for you
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5. |
I Will Let You Down
04:20
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© M. Hart 2012 (ASCAP)
Do you / want to / be with me?
I can’t /ask it / gracefully
Honest / faithful / self-controlled
But when you’re / sleeping / I’m not home
Say the word and I will let you down
Say the word and I will let you down
I know now / what must be / to keep the peace
A good man / a bad deed / and sweet release
Cuz if you / close this door on me
I won’t / own your / misery
Say the word and I will let you down
Say the word and I will let you down
Cuz I’ll be working nights on all the days you’re dreaming of
So let’s just finish off whatever’s left of me to love
Say the word and I will let you down
See, can’t you see, this is mercy
See, can’t you see, this is mercy
See, can’t you see, this is mercy (mercy, mercy, oh mercy)
See, can’t you see, this is mercy
Say the word and I will let you down
Say the word and I will let you down
Cuz I been working night on all the days you’re dreaming of
So let’s just finish off whatever’s left of me to love
Say the word and I will let you down
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6. |
Daniel
03:26
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© A. Zoli 2012 (ASCAP)
Oh Daniel, Daniel make me a believer again
Oh Daniel, Daniel make me a believer again
I want to run, as fast as I can
Far away from this forsaken land
I want to be free
I want to go, where nobody knows
The broken down girl by the side of the road
I want to be free
Oh Daniel, Daniel make me a believer again
Oh Daniel, Daniel make me a believer again
Take off this skin that I’m living in
Cut out the darkness, the damage and sin
Start all over again
You seem to find a light left inside
Burning beyond all the mess in my life
Start all over again
Oh Daniel, Daniel make me a believer again
Oh Daniel, Daniel make me a believer again
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7. |
Easy
02:23
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© M. Hart, 2012 (ASCAP)
An apple's an apple right down to the core
A poor man with riches will always be poor
It was never a gift bestowed from above
It was scratched for and hoarded through punishing love
Make it easy
Make it look easy
Can't you make it look easy
While you push and you sweat so you won't be outdone
Ovations ring out for more fortunate ones
You can scream all you want at the emperor's skin
But they won't give a damn cuz you'll never be him
Make it easy
Make it look easy
Can't you make it look easy
Make it easy
Make it look easy
Make it easy
Why can't you make it look easy
When's it gonna get easy
When's it gonna get easy
When's it gonna get easy
For me
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8. |
House on a Hill
03:13
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© M. Hart, 2012 (ASCAP)
There's a house on a hill
Sitting bare, standing still
Somewhat worse for wear from the winter
The shingles are all gone
But the mortar is strong
In the end, he's a real fixer-upper
But if you are the kind of person
Who would take that challenge on
Then I'd best let you come along
Please just tell me straight
No need to complicate
After all, this ain't no ring on a finger
But the view from my bed
I see the sun rise, not set
So for now, in the East, we can linger
Cuz if you are the kind of person
who can kiss me with a song
Then I'd best let you come along
And I won't go back
By the way I came
I will lift you up
If you do the same
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9. |
Leaves
04:35
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© A. Zoli and M. Hart, 2012 (ASCAP)
The path is painted
Shades of yellow, orange and red
And the wind it howls
What was once alive, is now dead
The air is bitter
It chills me to the bone
Thought I’d better by now
But I’m no good left alone
He is long gone
But in my dreams he stayed
I didn’t have to watch him walk away
Now the colors fade to memories
Sunrise is coming
I’ve walked these woods all night
Searching for a sinner
Someone wrong to make it right
He left me alone
But in my dreams he stayed
I didn’t have to watch him walk away
Now the colors fade to memories
He just leaves
Take care, take care of yourself
And those around you
Repair, repair what you can
Before it haunts you
Let it bloom
Don't leave so soon
Without me
But in my dreams he stayed
I didn’t have to watch him walk away
Now the colors fade to memories
He just leaves
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10. |
Devil and a Stiff Drink
03:30
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© A. Zoli and M. Hart, 2011 (ASCAP)
The Devil dressed up, as a man,
He took my body, he took my hand
And he led me to the point of no salvation
He spoke so sweet, he poured the wine
We danced to thunder breaking over as our bodies intertwined
And I woke in his dark imagination
But these flames, feel like home to me,
With fire coursing through my veins I think I finally see
With the Devil my heart is meant to be
I don’t need no savior, don’t wanna be saved,
Don’t need no holy roller telling me just how I gotta behave
Just give me my Devil and a good stiff drink
I'll take your convictions, I’ll take your truths,
I’ll take your black lies covered in red tape and I’ll throw them back at you
So don’t you bother telling me how to think
Cuz these flames, feel like home to me,
With fire coursing through my veins I think I finally see
With the Devil my heart is meant to be
But these flames, feel like home to me,
I have never felt so free
Don’t take this away from me
Cuz with fire coursing through my veins I think I finally see
That with the Devil my heart is meant to be
Just gimme my Devil
Just give me my Devil and a good stiff drink.
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11. |
Artificial Love
02:50
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© A. Zoli 2012 (ASCAP)
Just cover it up
The whole in my heart
And I will do
The same for you
They broke us baby, they let us down
But it's okay, we've got each other now
It's just you and me and me and you
Doin' what the good folks do
We pass the time and say it's enough
There's nothing quite like an artificial love
You fill my days
I'll be your nighttime lady
Lying is grand
When you're holding my hand
Sleeping alone simply won't do
I'd much rather come home to you
It's just you and me and me and you
Doin' what the good folks do
We pass the time and say it's enough
There's nothing quite like an artificial love
It's just you and me and me and you
Doin' what the good folks do
We pass the time and say it's enough
There's nothing quite like artificial love
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