 |
|
|
|
|
|
pretty for you
Written by Brian Vander Ark © 1993 Sid Flips Music/EMI April Music Inc. (ASCAP). Lyrics reprinted by kind permission.
swallow this scene, I'm on fire
arms waving, burning higher
impressing you with what I've done
but every minute I'm losing one by one
swallow this scene, sharpen knives
pin cushion, pierce my sides
and every blade will catch the sun
and every minute I'm losing one by one
right now pretty for you
am I finally pretty?
an ornament for everyone
but every minute I'm losing one by one
swallow this scene, there is laughter
for the ugly ever-after
and after they have poked their fun
and every lover I'm losing one by one
|
(back to top)
|
spoonful of sugar
Written by Brian Vander Ark © 1993 Sid Flips Music/EMI April Music Inc. (ASCAP). Lyrics reprinted by kind permission.
I adore a confrontation, and I should be ashamed
a carnival of complication, everyone's to blame
we can see the rocket's red glare
pipe bomb bursting in the air
as we proudly hail our taxis out of the fight
singing born of this nation of white bread foundation
we're taping a king, beaten of his crown
my country 'tis of thee, sweet land of irony
spoonful of sugar to wash it down
i have seen the hungry faces, and i have been removed
evidence in welfare cases, never being proved
we've written books on education
summoned federal regulation
skeleton hid deeply 'til its bones turn to dust
i know an old lady who swallowed a fly
i don't know why exactly, i guess she'll die
my country 'tis of thee, sweet land of irony
spoonful of sugar to wash it down
and god save the queen, oh, and pardon the king
and our ballots we'll stuff, then drink 'till we drown
my country 'tis of thee, sweet land of irony
spoonful of sugar to wash it down
|
(back to top)
|
victoria
Written by Brian Vander Ark © 1993 Sid Flips Music/EMI April Music Inc. (ASCAP). Lyrics reprinted by kind permission.
stripping flowers at pedal pace
twirling blur of legs, legs and lace
victoria, she loves her name
running flushed our faces red
daring her to kiss, to kiss my head
victoria, she loves her name
bathing in her innocence
then drowned in her indifference
victoria
i left her on her frozen route
i grew up while she, she grew out
victoria, she loves her name
a social climb by offering love
'til everyone was inside of
victoria
loves
now my love won't make amends
you cut the cord on which your life depends
victoria, she loves her name
like cheating in a children's game
victory doesn't taste the same
yet victoria, she loves her name
victoria
loves
|
(back to top)
|
honest
Written by Brian Vander Ark and Donny Brown & 1993 Sid Flips Music/Hips McCrackin' Music/EMI April Music Inc. (ASCAP). Lyrics reprinted by kind permission.
who will leave your bed this morning?
who will be the one
to leave you now amidst adoring light
cause it feels right?
who will be the one
to leave you as tomorrow's dawning?
and though i'm asking, please don't give specifics
i'm so unterrifically honest
who will hold your door this evening?
who will be the one
to steal the smile through shining candlelight
cause it feels right?
who will be the one
to leave you as tomorrow's dawning?
i'm not trying to be scientific
i'm not trying to be anything at all
but this chemistry just turns me
turns me terribly honest
honest
who will leave your bed this morning?
will he be the one
who snuffs the smile that once had shined so bright?
are you alright?
will he be the one
who leaves you as tomorrow's dawning?
i'm not trying to be sympathetic
i'm not trying to be anything at all
but this story's happened to me
and it's turned me terribly honest
honest
|
(back to top)
|
the river
Written by Donny Brown © 1993 Hips McCrackin' Music/EMI April Music Inc. (ASCAP). Lyrics reprinted by kind permission.
she fell in love with a lover boy
in the old days i would walk alone
any other day not disturbing
while the others roamed
and i listened to her song
but would walk on the other side
we'd be lonely, blue and lonely
then she fell in love with another one
i was older now, and followed a path
she had learned to be cool, to be caring
and i thought i should say
it's too much just to be
but not enough for the life of me
to be lonely, blue and lonely
that's when the river ran dry
that's when the river was all but a spill
that's when the river ran dry
every soul on the shore
without sail, without will
she said her saviour was soon to come
from a long way, to bring back the girl he once knew
to be true and all loving
in the very best ways
and i listened to her song
but would walk on the other side
we'd be lonely, blue and lonely
that's when the river ran dry
that's when the river was all but a spill
that's when the river ran dry
every soul on the shore
without sail, without will
if time were a second
if life were a moment that once stood still
i'd leave it untattered, untouched, until
but it's too much just to be
but not enough for the life of me
to be lonely, blue and lonely
she fell in love with a lover boy
in the old days, i would walk alone
any other day not disturbing
and i listened to her song
but would walk on the other side
we'd be lonely, blue and lonely
that's when the river ran dry
that's when the river was all but a spill
that's when the river ran dry
every soul on the shore
without sail, without will
and i knew it before, and i do know it still
|
(back to top)
|
sleepy town
Written by Donny Brown © 1993 Hips McCrackin' Music/EMI April Music Inc. (ASCAP). Lyrics reprinted by kind permission.
sleep, sleep all the sleepy town
you are the only one
now only night lights flickering
now all is said and done
sleep, sleep all the sleepy town
you are the only one
all the moments from the rising
to the setting of the sun
|
(back to top)
|
bullies on vacation
Written by Brian and Brad Vander Ark © 1993 Sid Flips Music/Guy Bruno Music/EMI April Music Inc. (ASCAP). Lyrics reprinted by kind permission
a bully enjoying his vacation
oblivious to all our confrontations
speaking fondly of his junior years
when i was fighting tears
a bully enjoying his vacation
i can taste the anger and the hate
i have come to set the record straight
twenty years seems long enough to wait
a bully enjoying his vacation
cruising with my nemesis on high seas
five drinks, he doesn't recognize me
full of anticipation
i don't notice his depression
cruising with my nemesis on high seas
my act of concern is just to tease
i'm about to send him to his knees
so close to force him begging please
he mentions terminal disease
a bully enjoying his vacation
and how he feels someone is dangling
his vile existence on a string
and now the sea he's conquering
knows he can conquer anything
a bully enjoying his vacation
aware of his terminal condition
frustrated by my indecision
knowing i'd regret this very day
i hit him anyway
aware of his terminal condition
once again, he got the best of me
i left him conquering the sea
a bully enjoying his vacation
|
(back to top)
|
what you wanted
Written by Brian Vander Ark © 1993 Sid Flips Music/EMI April Music Inc. (ASCAP). Lyrics reprinted by kind permission.
through the remains i have been sorting
seeking refuge underneath flourescent skies
an apocalypse of pity
i know she is safe and building her disguise
bracing for the scavengers
who reign upon my humble domain
fills my face with anger
into permanent distortion
i'm ugly getting over you
it's what you wanted
you're gorgeous running out of me
it's what you wanted
i'm ugly getting over you
i know that you're more beautiful now
everday's survival lesson
brings another scarring session to sustain
i anticipate a lesion
it's a chemical reaction to my pain
7,000 weathered faces
hide my beautiful and buried smile
sleeping seems to be the greatest medication
i'm switching channels, silly sitcoms are a metronome
one beat about half an hour
i will shun the radio
because i hear my life in every song
brushing off the bottle
i become a connoisseur for a night
rake the dead grass from the bitter green
that's growing wild
|
(back to top)
|
wanna be
Written by Brian Vander Ark and Donny Brown © 1993 Sid Flips Music/Hips McCrackin' Music/EMI April Music Inc. (ASCAP). Lyrics reprinted by kind permission.
we all love a millionaire
on the radio, with a great video
and all the orchestration
backing up your screaming guitar
how'd you make it this far?
do you gotta be straight on the line?
do you gotta look great all the time?
do you gotta be straight?
we'll even pay you, millionaire
tell us of your abuse, we stand so amused
and what you said about the audience
simple lyrics will do
cause they don't have a clue
do i gotta be straight on the line?
do i gotta look great all the time?
do i gotta be straight?
wannabewannabewishiwereyouknowiwishiwereyouknow
wannabewannabewishiwereyouknowiwishiwereyou
now love me i'm a millionaire
running out of cliches, but i'm keeping the faith
now, should i repeat the second verse?
or maybe the third?
it's becoming absurd
but i gotta be straight on the line
and i wanna be high all the time
well, i gotta be straight
gottakeepthefaith, gottaplayitstraight
givepeaceachance, sittingonafence
gottatowtheline, sweetchildo'mine
pushcomestoshove, allyouneedislove
|
(back to top)
|
out like a lamb
Written by Brian Vander Ark © 1993 Sid Flips Music/EMI April Music Inc. (ASCAP). Lyrics reprinted by kind permission.
i'm feeling very moses like
you think that i could lead you?
or humble, more like david
would you help me cause i need you?
or i'll be charismatic
with the power to persuade you
supposing i'm a saviour
or a drunkard, or your highness
you slither in these sheets
and then you ask me for forgiveness
i'll tell you parables of making love
and spreading kindness
flames rise like butterflies
been frightened by my stompin'
i'm laughing 'cause they don't know who i am
the philistines toss tangerines
'cause springtime is for dancing
in like a lion and out like a lamb
goliath sits and watches
tired of this investigation
so children grab your M-16s
and load your ammunition
i will work all night
rewrite the book of revelations
flames rise like butterflies
been frightened by my stompin'
i'm laughing 'cause they don't know who i am
the philistines toss tangerines
'cause springtime is for dancing
in like a lion and out like a lamb
now go and tune your guitars
and i'll meet you here tomorrow
grab that case of scotch
it's all the courage you can swallow
i'll burn for all your sins
but i'm expecting you to follow
flames rise like butterflies
been frightened by my stompin'
i'm laughing 'cause they don't know who i am
the philistines load magazines
'cause springtime is for dancing
in like a lion and out like a lamb
|
(back to top)
|
senator speak
Written by Brian Vander Ark © 1993 Sid Flips Music/EMI April Music Inc. (ASCAP). Lyrics reprinted by kind permission.
senator speak your mind if i smoke filled room
with a view on the top floor me
the president seal the deal yourself a better
hand jobless homeless man on the moon beam
the capital gains some weight around
forever and a day break a leg of lamb
off in the distance runner uplift your
spirit of '76 trombones lead
i, you bet i been speaking in tongues
speak
well, the deficit yourself right down in the front
row row row your boat is sinking
the cold war of the world beat around the
Bush campaign in the ask yourself absorbing (junior)
the economy, myself and i gotta go
thank you very much
|
(back to top)
|
is it worth it?
Written by Donny Brown © 1993 Hips McCrackin' Music/EMI April Music Inc. (ASCAP). Lyrics reprinted by kind permission.
is it worth it to wait forever
when you find out there's really not much that you
can say
would it be worth it to wait forever
and everyone is saying you will come around
is it worth it to search forever
when you find out there really isn't any other way
would it be worth it to wait
does it make it any easier
to save your time and give yourself
to open faces, open mouths
to any other one who reaches out
does it make it any easier
|
(back to top)
|
LINER NOTES
produced by the verve pipe with jon frazer engineered by tom jansen, jon frazer and john bruey mixed by jon frazer and the verve pipe recorded and mixed at station c studios, grand rapids, mi digital editing and sequencing by fred baker, sound post, inc. all songs published by LMNO pop music art direction and design by patty brower and brian vander ark layout by number one graphics, illustration by jon benallack photography by jon frazer thanks to: matt aljian, matt guggemos, chris dubach, all at wdbm impact radio, all at widr at wmy, zak einstein, joe boyer, john jozwiak, doug hall, zak johnson, matthew knee & all the pirates, kevin leeser, tammy dykhouse, steve boyd, kelly brown, 89 x, all at ms productions, john michmerhuizen, johnny blue, marcie persky, christine fuoco, shirly clemens, mustard plug, norm vanamen & grove spoon, steve bennett at rit drums, scott vander ark, phil grandstaff, b. lynn koepfer, jeff vander ark, reid reineke, tim & scott at music manor, wendy aaron, brad wildey, gary bock, ma & pa dunning, frog at elderly, alan d cabrera, don & dolly, larry bos, doug buttleman and sonny mormann.
special thanks to: dan west for booking us, tom jansen and jon frazer for being patient with us, keri valmassei for pushing us, pam holtz/abby tithof/carrie wiltse/karen stolle for loving us, howard abrams for representing us and john bruey for mixing us (live).
|
(back to top)
Copyright © 2001 The Verve Pipe. All rights reserved.
|
|
|
|
