1. |
Hard to High Five
03:45
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I’ve never been one of those guys
Who feels that lucky in life
It took a long time to be barely getting by
And have a satisfied mind
When something good happens, I take it in stride
I don’t get excited too many times
You’ll always find I am hard to high five
I’d rather keep all that inside
I’d rather keep all that inside
Maybe it’s the way that I’m built
Won’t take stock of how I feel
All pent-up midwestern Presbyterian guilt
I guess it’s all part of the deal
When something good happens, I take it in stride
I don’t get excited too many times
You’ll always find I am hard to high five
I’d rather keep all that inside
I’d rather keep all that inside
I’ve never been one of those guys
Good at opening his eyes
To see how things have turned out just fine
And say “Thanks” for being alive
And say “Thanks” for being alive
And say “Thanks” for being alive
When something good happens, I take it in stride
I don’t get excited too many times
You’ll always find I am hard to high five
I’d rather keep all that inside
I’d rather keep all that inside
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2. |
Those Unspoken Things
04:44
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Back where I come from
Men were hard and the women were tough
Life was never easy
But they had enough
They did what they had to do
There were no in-betweens
It’s just one of
Those unspoken things
My daddy’s dad
Didn’t leave him much
Except to care for his mother
And to be a good son
And I don’t ask
About the past or what it means
It’s just one of
Those unspoken things
Year after year
It piles up
Generations pass down
The baggage of
Holding on to
What you feel and think
And we carry them on
Those unspoken things
Back where I come from
We take a lot of pride
In saying we say
Just what’s on our minds
But there‘s so much we keep
Inside instead of coming clean
And we carry them on
Those unspoken things
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3. |
What It Takes
04:15
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It’s a simple explanation
I don’t comprehend
The less I think about it
The less I understand
And I don’t know what it takes to love me
I only know what I can know
I don’t think it can be easy
But you took my hand and never let go
It’s difficult at times
To believe you’re worth something
Half of what I deserve
Is all of nothing
And I don’t know what it takes to love me
I only know what I can know
I don’t think it can be easy
But you took my hand and never let go
The only way my mind
Can rationalize your love
Is that I must be the luckiest guy
You could have grabbed hold of
And I don’t know what it takes to love me
I only know what I can know
I don’t think it can be easy
But you took my hand and never let go
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4. |
Up With Anxiety
05:08
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Jumping down the rabbit hole
Following a trail
I too often go down
After so many trips
You’d think I would be sick of this
But it’s my routine now
It’s easy for you to say
I can’t let this consume me
When you’ve never been bit
It’s eating at me night and day
And in the morning
There’s nothing left
Another night I’ll be
Up with anxiety
Staring at the clock
Mind is racing so fast
How long will this last?
When’s it going to stop?
I know there will be brighter days
Just right now
The clouds are out
That’s just the way it is sometimes
It rains
And then it rains again
Another night I’ll be
Up with anxiety
Staring at the clock
Mind is racing so fast
How long will this last?
When’s it going to stop?
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5. |
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Driving down the road
Listening to the radio
Trying to make sense
Of the world as you drive home
When the things you can’t change
Bring you down each and every day
It’s time to find the frame of mind
To take hold of the things you can control… In time
You should probably turn the station
Listen to some music
By the time you arrive
Your destination will be no different
When the things you can’t change
Bring you down each and every day
It’s time to find the frame of mind
To take hold of the things you can control… In time
You walk in the door
Fix dinner and sit on the couch
Shaking off this weight
Is tougher than it sounds
Shaking off this weight
Is tougher than it sounds
Shaking off this weight
Is tougher than it sounds
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6. |
Everything Upside Down
04:02
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Well, that really happened
Now you’re left holding the bag
You can say you were surprised
You can say you been had
Just as you turn around
Everything upside down
Hard to stand your ground
Everything upside down
Maybe it wasn’t planned
But that don’t mean you understand
Every time you feel relief
A wave of grief takes you back
Just as you turn around
Everything upside down
Hard to stand your ground
Everything upside down
It’ll take a lot of time
For the confusion to end
Everyday’s a quest
To feel normal again
Just as you turn around
Everything upside down
Hard to stand your ground
Everything upside down
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7. |
Together Apart
06:20
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We walk together through the park
Hold each other’s hands as we talk
So much unspoken along the way
So many years, yet so much
To say
Side by side on the swing-set
It seems like we were babies when we met
Before long you’re older with your own kids
Life makes it hard to realize
What you’ve missed
Pushing you on the merry-go-round
It’ not fun going round in circles now
We never had to worry about honesty
There’s so much I wish
You would tell me
Lying on our backs
Looking at the stars
Right beside each other
Together apart
Let’s go down the slide before we leave
Go back home to deal with reality
Age changes everyone a little bit
But it shouldn’t keep us
From starting again
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8. |
The Bitter Truth
03:44
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Most nights, I lie awake
My mind keeps running and won’t shut down
As I feel you next to me
There are so many things I’m thinking about
The bitter truth, the bitter truth
Is I’ve never loved anyone more than you
The bitter truth, the bitter truth
Is I should show it better than I do
We always take for granted
Whatever it is that means the most
No matter how hard I push you
You’ll pull even harder to keep me close
The bitter truth, the bitter truth
Is I’ve never loved anyone more than you
The bitter truth, the bitter truth
Is I should show it better than I do
Sometimes you live long enough
To be the story you’re trying to tell
At this point, the plot escapes me
Unless it’s that you saved me from myself
The bitter truth, the bitter truth
Is I’ve never loved anyone more than you
The bitter truth, the bitter truth
Is I should show it better than I do
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9. |
Need Your Touch
08:03
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Take away the sky
Take the stars
Leave the dark
Let the colors die away
Leave me with
Black and grey
And I, I don’t need much
All I need is your touch
Take away the sounds
Ringing in my ear
Make them disappear
Take the songs we depend upon
No singing along
Silence everyone
And I, I don’t need much
All I need is your touch
And I, I don’t need much
All I need is your touch
And I, I don’t need much
All I need is your touch
And I, I don’t need much
All I need is your touch
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Brent Stewart recommends:
To The Roof Of The Sky (1998)
by Bill Mallonee & Vigilantes of Love
A huge record for me. It helped me find a language to articulate what I wanted to say with my music. Bill is one of the best songwriters out there. You'll never be disappointed.
go to album
David Brown and The Tomorrowmen
by David Brown and The Tomorrowmen
One of the most creative guys I've known. Also check out his late band, Secondary Modern.
go to album
Sticks And Stones (Deluxe Remaster)
by 77s
Another very influential album for me. Great pop/ rock writing. Killer band. Killer guitar playing. Should have been a hit!
go to albumIf you like Brent Stewart, you may also like:
Echo Dancing
by Alejandro Escovedo
The legendary Alejandro Escovedo returns with another country-rock scorcher.
go to album
Play It On The Tannoys
by Stranger The Horse
Rich and carefully-sculpted songs that cross-wire country and roots music with jazz, samba, and more.
go to album
Restless Spirit
by Tucker Riggleman & The Cheap Dates
West Virginia trio showcase strident country rock anchored in bold, anthemic songcraft and deliciously twangy tones.
go to album
