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The Water's Gonna Rise

by Bobby Dunne

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1.
Just a Game 02:38
I had ten small fingers that could barely wrap my mother’s wrist, but curled like a frown into a tiny fist. I struck my father, I struck my father. It was just a game when he hit me in the ribs, when he hit me in the ribs. And that was the last time life ever pulled a punch on me.
2.
When you put my picture in the sun what made you think I wouldn’t fade away? And when I put your picture in the fire, where were your tears to keep the flames at bay? And those fears that burned you up that you kept carefully hid, were you planning to tell me we’re already ash on the wind? You flew us too close to a star, did you think sorry would be good enough? And now you’ve knocked that star into the sea, don’t act surprised the waters are getting rough. And those fears that wash your shore and that speak of the grave, were you planning to tell me we’re already foam on the waves? I’ve never met a January day as frozen as you, you’re a desert nothing can get me through. Your voice is the song that makes songbirds blue, so don’t ask, don’t ask why away I flew. And those fears that haunt your soul like a loon’s lonely cry, were you planning to tell me you will never fly with me again? Chorus I know you’re scared of flying but you will not deny me the clouds and the stars in the sky. And if you’re tired of trying I will leave you lying on the ground yes I’ve already forgot about you. Bridge Keep your broken bottle kiss your heart clenched like a fist around all those words you should’ve said to me and I hope it hurts like hell to know you could’ve stopped me, you should’ve stopped me
3.
Rock Bottom 04:06
It comes as no surprise when I look around and realize how far I have to go. No job in sight, my wallet's getting light but no knife is sharp enough to cut the fight out of me. My pride is small enough to swallow, don't count on this storm to keep me from tomorrow If there's rain, you know I'll weather it. If there's flame, I keep it together and if I have to jump I will not hesitate. Chorus: Cause I’m not scared of hitting rock bottom I’ll just bounce back up straight to the top and I don’t care how long it takes, I’ll be walkin’ those lights up on that stage. Cause my troubles are heavy but they won’t pull me down, I can swim againist the current I don’t have to drown. Let’s see how far we can go today, Let’s see how far we can go today. Feels like I’m backed into a corner so I'm leading with my fists because the only way is forward and I'll cross the Delaware soldier beware you'll need a bigger army if you want to try and drown out my boom. Never assume there's only one way through I'll take a hammer to the wall if I got nothing else to do and if you have to will you stand your ground with me? Bridge I needed the sand in my eye, the grit in my teeth I needed my life on the line. And I’ll paint maps with my blood, I only learned how to swim in the flood. I’ll build bridges with my scars.
4.
The day begins and ends in flame, but here that place is one and the same and the shadows never tire. And the river can't dream about the snow with the sun spinning over it's head it can't remember how the cars drove over. Chorus Won't let my thoughts catch up to me, think that I can stay numb if I just lay up under the midnight sun. The ground is froze for 100 feet below, summer forgot to tell the ice to melt. Muddy water got it's fingers deep in the stone between a million years of mountains that slipped beneath the ground without a sound. Bridge The miles pile up behind a wall I hope to never climb. Can I bury myself up north?
5.
There was a time when I held on too long, and all that could sooth me was some angry song. And I was wondering if you’ve ever felt the same? That to feel okay you’d wish upon her life pain and shame? Well not today, I’m done with happiness at her expense, living large in the big old city ain't no defense. 'Cause what happens when I fall upon my face? Get dragged back to that dark place is she better than me now? Chorus So let’s forget about our pain, and please don’t worry that I’ll break: I’m made of tougher stuff these days. So if you have to, then break my heart. Maybe I want you to break my heart. I used to know with one look upon her face that she’d be the one I’d never want to replace. But life ain’t so clear stuck in this haze, all the colors turned to gray. Will the breeze blow it clear? Or is this the way I’ve finally grown I finally know that love is found working in the field with my plow in the dirt. I'll brave each storm that blows in, I’ll ride each twister with a grin, then one day she’ll take me away.
6.
So Far 04:03
There’s only so far a river can run before your boat, before your boat hits the shore. And it’s cryin' streams but they’re too shallow for your dreams so you set out on your own once more. And you think a train never runs out track, but then it’s at the end of the line. You think a car could keep on driving, you run out of gas and then you ask… There’s only so far a mountain can rise before you reach before you reach the peak. So you can walk each trail but one day you’ll have to bail some things are just out of reach. And you think a train never runs out track, but then it’s at the end of the line. You think a car could keep on driving, you run out of gas and then you ask Chorus Is it a lie to say I love you tonight if I know I will leave some day? I want to be with you anyways, for now. Is it cruel to say you mean the world when I know mine will keep turning, turning when you’re gone? I went further for you... There’s only so far a fire can burn Before it fades, before it fades to away. So whether coal or wood, it must be understood when it’s gone you know it’s time to move.
7.
Gather up the clothes and walk on down 'cause the rains are coming. Wash ‘em in the river and listen for that sound of thunder rolling into town. Hanging all the shirts up on the line 'cause the sun it will not make them dry. Chorus The water’s gonna rise, so close your eyes and wash away. The current will current decide so close your eyes and wash away. The clouds begin to gather up in the sky, and I’m smelling of all the trees as the wind blows by. So I open up the windows and let it all in, gonna let it blow me back to where it begins. Then the rain starts to fall like it’s never gonna end, the river is a wound that ain’t never gonna mend. Chorus The water’s gonna rise, so close your eyes and wash away. The current will current decide so close your eyes and wash away. I’ve been swimming for a year but there’s no dry land, just the roof of a barn where I can barely stand. I’m crying up to heaven yeah I’m tearing my throat, for just a handful of sleep in the belly of a boat. I’m strong enough to fight up against the flow, I’m strong enough to know when it’s time to let go.
8.
I love how your smile comes softly like the rain upon the window panes. Your smile it comes so softly like the rain like the rain upon the panes You look at me with those eyes don’t even know how to describe the way. Yes you look at me with those eyes why would I ever want to describe the way? I take your hand so softly shaking like a tree blowing in the winter wind. You hold my hand so softly shaking like a tree blowing in the winter wind. Chorus And oh how we laugh with each other, we talk about the day. And sometimes baby we don't need to say a thing, we just sit in the quiet. But words bead up on your lips they freeze and then they blow away. Yes words bead up on your lips, they freeze and then they blow away. My words could thaw the words upon your lips, my words could thaw the words upon your lips, my lips could thaw the words upon your lips! But I’m as scared as you are, words bead up upon my lips. And oh how we laugh with each other, we talk about the day. But when it comes to the real stuff, baby we just can't find the right words to say. I love you is the ice cube on my tongue but when I open my mouth to let it out it melts right down... Your smile it goes so softly like the rain upon the window panes. Your smile is goes so softly like the rain like the rain, upon the panes.
9.
Veronica 02:58
Veronica, oh the sweet oil is burning my skin as I get too close to you. The flame of my love, oh Lord let it never go out. I hold it to the window for you to see that I want you, how I want you. But your eyes they look past me, and your words how they scorn me and your heart, oh your heart. Just give me one more chance! We could make it work, force it to work. But the harder I try, the further you feel from me. I break my back for a smile, while he barely lifts for a laugh. And you're slipping away day by day. Veronica, don't you know he feels nothing at all? And that kiss, it was only a kiss to him. The flame of his love lies beneath the ground, please don't follow him, follow him down. You hold it to the window for him to see, but only see your face in the glass. And his eyes they look past you and his words how they burn you and his heart, oh his heart. Just give me one more chance! We could make it work, force it to work. But the harder you try, the further he feels from you. You break your back for a smile, while he barely lifts for a laugh. And he's slipping away day by day. Just give me one more chance! Well I know how you feel.
10.
The sky's full of paint, the reds and the blues scattered and fading to a night time hue. The bushes' a blur, and the trees don't seem real, there's only you with your hands on the steering wheel. Soon everything's black but the cars floating past, your face has a glow from the lights on the dash. You turn the radio off so we're left in the hush, that happens when the volume is turned up too much. There in the night is your voice lone but clear, a sound that makes the miles disappear. Against the brightening sky, we see a carnival frozen but for the ferris wheel spinning around. The fogs' whispy fingers rolls it through with a plea: early morning rosary. Your lips turn up in a faint little smile, you speak for the first time in a while. "Don't they look tired when they move in the day?" "I wonder if anyone's on it?" I say. There in the morning is your voice lone but clear, a sound that makes time disappear. I know that I will walk away, and that I will not be coming back again. I suppose we're through, but I want you to know that I love you. The carnival is well out of sight, and through the trees streams golden sunlight. Somehow the morning feels kind of sad, I run my fingers up your arm to take your hand.
11.
I want you to be the last thing I see before I close my eyes tonight. You were sitting out one day in front of that North Beach café, and no I don’t recall the name but the way your hair teased in that San Francisco breeze. It made me sit down next to you, and we talked for a while. I made you laugh, and you made me laugh. And when I got home you were the last thing on my mind before I closed my eyes closed my eyes that night. We met by the bay, we watched the ferries crashing through the waves, felt the spray upon our face. You say you love the beach, the sand beneath your feet. I say the mountains are mine, the trees and the leaves. You say it seems to me you moved to the wrong damn city, so I chased you down the dock, you scare the pigeons and the tourists until I catch you. And that’s when I start to think that I want you to be the last thing I see before I close my eyes, close my eyes tonight. You take me to the Mission and we forget about our worries as we lay in the grass and the sun. We got lost among the lakes and the birds in the park. We listen to the drummers as they fill the April air. I thought we’d watch the sunset in the sunset, we took a walk in the fog instead! And as I walk you home, I turn to you and say that I want you to the be the last thing I see before I close my eyes tonight.

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released September 12, 2012

All songs written, performed and recorded by Bobby Dunne.

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Bobby Dunne San Francisco, California

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