These are mostly from Numbers & Figures songs. You can download all of them on the N&F blog, click these words to go there and download free music!
Lyrics posted below (a-z):
- A Chorus Choir
- Birchbark Maps
- The Difference Between Letters And Notes*
- The Ghosts Are Overexposed (Versions 1+2)
- I Am Not Afraid of the Monsters Living Under My Bed*
- I Fell Asleep At Nine In The Morning
- I Found My Tricycle
- [ light ]
- Light Vs. Silhouette*
- Our Eyes, Our Feet*
- Sir, Your Ship Is Sinking
- Sunnybrae (Versions 1+2)
- That Trio Was Just A Quintet Waiting To Happen
- This River*
- We Watched As The Northern Lights Fell From The Sky
- Your Logic Is Flawless
A Chorus Choir
When winter comes, we’ll find our homes. We’ll bury ourselves under mounds of snow. Another year away from here to live with my eyes closed, my thoughts, alone. When these words are all I have, written out on faded maps helping us to find our way. We’ll ask the others; will they follow us back? I’m wide awake as daylight breaks. Let’s start the day. Listen as the others say ‘oh why? oh why? oh why?’. A chorus choir to fill the air. Unmask the truth, the puppeteer, the answer. Make way for the melody: oh why? Oh why? Oh why? A faded black, an empty glass, such hidden truth and such uncertain fear. And over and again, repeating ‘we’re leaving’. Waiting for the night to speak so soft and slow, a silent speech. I’ll wait a while, but I won’t waste my time. Whisper as we used to. Stand so close to see through. I won’t mind. And if the truth is all you ask, well that’s all I am wanting back so it seems we have a deal. So it seems on the outside. The curtain call, the final fall to end it all.
Birchbark Maps
So all the sudden we have fallen in the traps that we used to. I would have thought that we’d have learned to be aware of who we are. Of all the people and the things to be discussed and compared to this is the first time I’d agree enough to say the same myself. So I’ll consider this a way to change what I should change, if only for today. Because the hardest part’s the start, and this makes it not so hard. We’ll discover who we are. If I could pick apart the parts of me I wish would be absent those would be the parts that seem to be most seen and most discussed. I need to be much more aware of what I’ve said and what I’ve meant or else continue to repeat the words with content being lost. We’ll move across the map of birchbark in water.
The Difference Between Letters And Notes
Every time we say the same words I lose hope again. I’m concentrating too much on myself and not my friends. I’m losing battles with addictive ways and reasoning. It’s a right we’re giving up and trading in. In words we’ve heard before, spoken by those who know; ‘be careful where you look and mindful what you hold’. We’re trading in pens for an optical lens to see through our skin with a beggars intent. We’re dying, I know, but it happens so slow. We’re selling old shirts for double their worth in hopes to trade lies for truth ’til it hurts. We’re waiting on signs sketched in thin pencil lines. Where are they? In the words of our elders who know from experience before; ‘be careful of where you’re looking, it could blind you from what you hold’. ‘Cause I’ve seen the affects of aging and the work that is left when we’re gone. If I follow in footsteps, we’ll never make progress. We’re failing one by one and I can’t, and won’t, consider this done. We’ve lost what we have said. If we set our sights to land on the sun we’ll burn up like they did. We’ve all spent too much time indoors to realize what we’re fighting for. We left homelands to be victorious, so now where do we stand? We lost all chance at being free from what they’re forcing this to be. It’s an injustice we will never defeat, so give up and give in. Regret nothing.
The Ghosts Are Overexposed (Version 1)
Let us know where you go tonight, and if it’s on your mind that they have their ears to the line and they’re listening. We’ve heard their muffled breaths and sighs and it all ends when I give the call to move in on offensive. Break down the walls, destroy the fences. ‘Cause they think they have me but that’s not the man I am. I’m past looking back and it’s all hands on deck as planned. You keep coming back but we’re ready to make the end and we’re prepared. They’ve got their eyes on you and they’re listening. Let us spill the chemicals inside their workspace in disguise. The floodgates will activate floodlights; let those become our eyes. I’ve seen past the masks they’ve fit to fake, I’ve pulled them all away. If you saw for yourself you would think the same. ‘Cause they think they have me but that’s not the man I am. When it’s slowed, the ghosts are overexposed. I keep control, I’ve got a steady hand. We’re prepared. They’ve got their eyes on you and they’re listening. We’ve got the clues and we’ve got the secrets. We hold the keys that will keep you believing.
The Ghosts Are Overexposed (Version 2)
What else can I say to make this clear? I feel like I am fading out but I’ll pretend that I’m still here. Seven hours and I can feel the cold, there has to be a way I can let go. ‘Cause they think they have me but that’s not the man I am. We’re somewhere beyond our minds tonight, we’re somewhere I can’t explain and I’m so sure they’ve got their eyes on you. Every chance I get I fail to use, a tired tale of wrong turns on a path I’ve yet to choose. Something for my mind to think is real, something more than false hopes and fake ideas. Cause they think they have me but that’s not the man I am. We’re somewhere beyond our minds tonight, we’re somewhere I can’t explain but I’ll say that they think they have me, but that’s not the man I am. I won’t speak unless I’m sure I have to, I think you should do the same. We know the truth. They’ve got their eyes on you. We’ve got the clues and we’ve got the secrets. We hold the keys that will keep you believing. Just lay down your armor, your shield will not cover your skin. They lie to themselves like they lie to our faces but we stand united with words for the ages ’cause they think they have me but that’s not the man I am.
I Am Not Afraid of the Monsters Living Under My Bed
Let’s shout ‘this is the greatest indifference’. Let’s shout ‘this is the greatest experience’. I am not scared of growing old, I am not scared of dying. I am not scared of growing old, I am not scared of trying. Let’s shout ‘daybreak, another day to survive’. Another day waiting, another with open eyes. Let’s shout ‘these are the memories we recall. The moment time passes, the moment time leaves us all’. And at least we can say that we made plans and followed through. And at least we’re here, and I’ll be damned if that’s not proof that we’ll be here until we’re ready to move on. And no, I’m not afraid of you. I’m not afraid of the greatest experience.
I Fell Asleep At Nine In The Morning
When I try to fall asleep I try to forget me. It sounds so simple. I am falling ten stories a second but I’ve yet to reach the ground. I’m sure it’s because I am falling forward, never looking down. I am falling ten stories a second, yet to reach the ground. I’m sure it’s ’cause I’m falling forward and never looking down. And I wake inside of my own world. When I try to fall asleep I try to forget me. It sounds so simple.
I Found My Tricycle
Six years old was such a tough age, or so we thought until our years came. Now we can try to relive those days of love and hate, or just reflect on a time when we tried to stay inside the lines. Or you could just wait. Wait. As I grew up I spent my weekends leaving notes behind the park bench. I always hoped someone would read them and even reply, so I’ll keep waiting for an answer. What do they have to say? I would just wait. Wait. I find myself thinking back to a time when I was six years old and didn’t care about the little things. I wasn’t worried about anything. There were no thieves or crooks inside my coloring books. I wasn’t taxed on good times spent climbing maple trees in my world of make-believe. I would just wait. Wait.
[ light ]
It seems like every week I write the words you’ll never read. It still sounds incomplete and I’m not sure what it needs. I’m building characters and setting scenes, I try so carefully. I’m holding off on sleep. Should I write? Should I continue? What good would it do? And is this heading where it’s supposed to? What else can I do to make this pull through? What is my direction? (What comes next?) I don’t even know my name. (Is this best?) Do I have selection (Does he know?) or will my choices stay the same? (Will he know?) What’s my destination? (What’s the path?) Is it true, the words they say? (Will this last?) Will my story end this way? Will I find home? Home. We won’t be here forever, so let’s be sure to write the greatest tale of self-indulgent interest we’ve yet to read. And we’ll include a boastful dialogue, a cast of thousands all with names and talents we will never see. These words will not repeat. Let’s walk. Let’s take the winding road home. Home.
Light Vs. Silhouette
I’ll be your light when you find that the shadows make it hard for you to compromise. And I’ll be close by when you’re looking for a guide because I know that’s just what I need most sometimes. I’ll be your light to guide and your silhouette to protect. Home. We won’t be here forever, so let’s be sure to write the greatest tale of self-indulgent interest we’ve yet to read. And we’ll include a boastful dialogue, a cast of thousands all with names and talents we will never see. These words will not repeat. Let’s walk. Let’s take the winding road home. Home.
Our Eyes, Our Feet
Now if you’re into it we can drive down these empty streets with corner-store maps. But the only terms are these: we throw away our thoughts and currencies. You say there’s no one left to make these forward steps. What about us? Our eyes, our feet will lead the way. A thousand paths, a million ways home. And I hope that we find something more than we’ve been asking for, we’ll hold on and keep searching for words that speak more than the letters and spaces they earn. We’ll turn what we want into what we’ll achieve. Remove ‘we can’t’ from the words that we speak. This is everything we wish this was as we step to succeed, so just let us be and let me believe. And I know that we’re coming across as confused, sad and lost but we’re not. We know what we want and we’re finding our footing as we’re climbing up. We’ve likend ourselves to some poor innocent who is begging for pity and claims heaven sent. I guess these are not at all convincing roles because all that we get are these contracts to buy back control.
Sir, Your Ship Is Sinking
Had you the right to know we’d spend forever on an empty ship, off course and alone we’d plot out our course on maps inked on napkins and fall off the edge of the globe. And if we had spent the time to pack a suitcase, or at least a box of things we’d recognize, we’d set course for wheat fields and end up with storm clouds removing us from sleep. But had we felt the same that day we’d found our destination, but we fell victim to ourselves and our miscalculations. When we opened our eyes we found the morning was in fact the night wrapped up in it’s disquise. I thought it would help me, turns out it’s unhealthy to mistake polite speech for lies. I want to tell my tale in the form of paperback with bolded font, our stories up for sale. But publishers hated the truth which we stated and told us attempting would fail. No, I’m not ready to head home.
Sunnybrae (Version 1)
I figured out the secret to a constant smile. I’m understand now it’s not too late to be happy with the way things are and not how you would make them, in a perfect world perfection’s not so great. I tried to write a book about what I found out but I could find the right words to explain ’cause in the end it’s really not so difficult or obvious but lately I’ve been finding both the same. You know it’s so dull to know just where everything goes. And look, it’s so cold but I’m still standing outside alone. Say that you’ll come with me, say you’ll believe it. Say that it’s never so good ’til you mean it. I never have, and never will say I’ve grown up. Let’s never grow up.
Sunnybrae (Version 2)
I figured out the secret to constant smiles in knowing it’s not too late to be happy with the way things are, forget what you would change. Remember every recess of every day, and every chance we used to take? And anyone around was another friend to talk to, someone we never knew. I tried to write a book about what I found out but I couldn’t find the right words ’cause every phrase on every page just seemed so out of place, just like we were. Say that you’ll come with me, say you’ll believe it. Say that it’s never so good until you mean it. I never have, and I never will say I’ve grown up. Let’s never grow up. And now I’m falling into obscurity. We’ll live like yesterday was Sunnybrae. Let’s never grow up.
That Trio Was Just A Quintet Waiting To Happen
Just remember; what you consider wasted time is what I live for. A memory of every night spent on wet grass with blankets. Every word, I meant it. I told you what was on my mind. I thought it best, I hope that I was right. And all for another night without innocence, wanting more yet getting less and settling for second best. And oh, if we give up now then we’re amateurs to never talk about ‘how we were’. A chance to start again, but not from the beginning. We’ll plan our days to start with mornings. We’d walk in sequence, taking the same steps as always. This feels different but I can’t quite explain why ’cause we’re back inside The Meadows, safe above our shadows. We’d fall asleep before we’d get home. This is what I always wished for. So let’s start again.
This River
If our last days are about making mistakes, then why force these words we’d never say? It seems much better for them to fade out to dust, at least that way we’ll never be caught with the same fate ’cause I know these words will never change. Yes, I know. Please someone give me thoughtful embrace. Time is wasting, let’s tell our stories while we can. Are we still caught up with all the things we can not change when really we should be making plans to find out all which is the same? I don’t wanna wake up without a reason to awake, I don’t want to fall asleep again if that means I’m giving up on fate ’cause this isn’t where I thought I’d be. No, I was sure you mistook someone else for me. Maybe you think I’m one who gives up that easy.
We Watched As The Northern Lights Fell From The Sky
What’s the rush? We’re wasting time. The sails are set and we’ve pulled the lines. We’re waiting on the wind to guide. It’s overtime. And where’s the aim, our target mark? We’ve lost our sight to midnight dark. I am, I am, and yes we are. I swear we are. You are the enemy who is waiting for the tide to wash away all the evidence you hide. You are everything the world would wish to rid if they knew what I knew about what you did. And there’s no more hiding and no more trying to make believe that I am not disgusted. In the strongest sense of the word, I need this. So let’s turn everything into an inside joke. We’ll make up pseudo names for everyone we know and turn our lives into a living one man show without an ending. It’s never ending. And we have one more week to make this speak the words we want it to, and if it means a single thing, I believe you. Just do what you came to do.
Your Logic Is Flawless
I’ve been standing on the tops of the trees in my back yard trying to see where I started and where this will end. And when I’ll be ready to make an advance with prediction, ready to stop and change my direction always. This is not the answer. I’ll be waiting for a change in the wind as reminder to find a place to settle or try to climb higher still. Which one? I am scared of the thought of a world which relies on trust to a point where we’re trying to find one thing in common. But wait, I’m afraid that in knowing this is ending I could change what has been sent out as script for what I’m meant to say. Do I have a choice? Is there any reason to raise my voice? This is not the answer. Why are we always looking for words when they’ve been there the entire time we were? Why are we always looking for solutions?
(end.)
*co-written with michael le riche
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I Am Gary Hampton. 