Get all 21 Marian Call releases available on Bandcamp and save 30%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Glitter, Dammit, Swears!, Cuss!, Music from the Play 'Franklin' by Samantha Noble, Patreon Content! Patreontent., Standing Stones, Pure Imagination, Come On and Take Your Sweetie to the Stars, and 13 more.
1. |
The Volvo Song
03:20
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Oh, my darling, there is something we must discuss
How with cell phone in hand you ran my Volvo through the special bus
(And I am more a Volvo than any other kind of car
Reliable and safe and Scandinavian and square)
You bent in all the corners and you put out all the lights
So I wanna know, baby, how you propose to make things right
Oooh my darling, when you bounced that check
Why didn’t you think the gorram fees would set you so far back
Oh my darling sugar pie, why did you stay up all that night
And put off your packing and eat too much and miss your flight
You knew you’d be miserable after that white lie
So why did you why did you why did you why did you why?
(Shame on you babe, shame on you babe
Always do know what you’ll do, babe
You know what you should and shouldn’t'a….)
Maybe when you’re older, baby, maybe when you’re sober
Then you’ll stop picking zits and picking nits and picking fights!
I know I’m far from perfect and I know I’m hardly good
But we’d get so much further if you would do what you what you should do –
If seeing were caring what a different line we’d take
If knowing were doing what a different world we’d make
What we want and what we need we very very seldom do
I want a smaller waist. I want donuts too.
And we visit on each other, oh, the slings of self-defeat
And we cannot dodge the arrows of undisciplined retreat
I’d be better if my love were not so timid and controlled
I’d sleep closer if I were not both so bony and so cold…
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2. |
Introduction
00:46
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3. |
Good Morning Moon
03:20
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Good morning Moon, love, how you doin’?
I’ve got business with you today
Good evening, Sun, I’ll see you soon
I wake on my own terms lately
Who’s to say we’re upside-down
Who’s to say we’re falling if we miss the ground
Who’s to say we’re going nowhere
If we like spinning ’round and ’round? Doo doot doot doo…
Good morning Stars, love, how you are?
Nice we finally see eye to eye
Good day to be a speck like me
Fast and free, that’s how we fly
Who’s to say we’re upside-down
Who’s to say we’re falling if we miss the ground
Who’s to say we’re going nowhere
If we like spinning ’round and ’round?
Good morning me, love, where you be?
Keep your eyes open wide –
Babe, we gonna be all right!
Doo doot doot doo…
We like we like spinning ’round and ’round.
Good morning Moon, love, how you doin’?
I’ve got business with you today.
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4. |
Whistle While You Wait
04:43
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When it’s your first time in Tok and you’re broke and just limping down the line
And it’s forty below and you know that they know that you’re a hopeful from Outside
And people speak distinctly as if you’re foreign
And you forgot to plug your car in
And you’re clearly overdressed, even for winter
And your self-assurance slowly starts to splinter
Oh it takes a little effort to keep your head on straight
To laugh as if you mean it, to whistle while you wait
It takes a little effort to warm up one more smile
To bear another stare, to brave another mile
When it’s the first time you could get to West Hollywood and you’re slathered in sunscreen
And you drive really slow, so you know that they know that you’re another Joe with a dream
And you’re wearing your old secondhand blue jeans
And you keep turning your head at limousines
And everybody else looks so damn pretty
And you’re feelin’ extra grungy and extra indie
Oh it takes a little effort to hold your head up straight
To dress just like you want to, to whistle while you wait
It takes a little effort to not avert your eyes
To trust that you belong there — it might just be yourself that you surprise
And when you’re hopelessly lost in downtown Austin and the crowd’s too cool for words
And you don’t wanna go but you know that they know you’re one of thousands of songbirds
And you can’t hardly be heard above the racket
‘Cause everybody there is tryin’ to hack it
And you’ve never been compelled to sleep outdoors yet
So you’re feelin’ all establishment and corporate
Oh it takes a little effort to keep your head on straight
To laugh and really mean it, to whistle while you wait
It takes a little effort to sometimes plug your ears
To play without pretensions, but also without fear
Because some of us will never quite feel the thrill of being safe in our own skin
When it’s your first time around you might flounder a bit ’til you fit in
And although I do heartily admire
Folks whose natural graces seem inspired
I expect the truly confident are fewer
Than I am generally inclined to think
And it’s worth a little effort to look ‘em in the eye
To whistle while you’re waiting, to flutter ’til you fly
Oh, it’s worth a little effort and a lot of honesty
It’s worth some work believing
It takes a little practice to learn to be
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5. |
Alaskan Girl Intro
00:46
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6. |
||||
Oh, I wish I were a real Alaskan girl
I wish that I could hold my beer
I could wear hip waders in summer and heels at ten below
I’d have sexy wooly legs with long and flowing frozen hair
Oh to be a scowgirl in the Last Frontier
Where chicks run the Iditarod and win it
Oh, I could wrench on my own goose and I would jerk my own moose
And I’d drive a huge domestic truck and actually haul stuff in it
A little less sugar, little more spice
A whole lot of fire and even more ice
From Kotzebue to Ketchikan, from Dead Horse to Attu
Alaskan chicks can teach a city girl like me a thing or two
Oh, I wish I were a real Alaskan girl
Because I hear that they kick ass
Oh, it’s easy to see why a local woman’s in demand
The guys have to queue up for years to hold your hand
I’d find me some big burly bush pilot boy
I would hook and reel him in and fiancé him
But if he ever double-crossed me or tried to do me wrong
I wouldn’t hardly hesitate to skin, gut, and filet him
I’d shoot more than a camera at the animals and such
I’d eat Rudolph for breakfast and Bullwinkle for lunch
Alaskan girls are fearsome and fearless by design
They kill mosquitoes with a look and mess with trusting tourists’ minds
They’re ruggedly handsome in their way
They’re wild and free and meant to be that way
So from Jakalof to Juneau raise a glass to a proud and
confident and deserving Alaskan woman you know
And from Beaver to Tatitlek, here’s to ladies who understand that their
self-image should have nothing whatsoever to do with their shade of
lipstick
I wish I were a real Alaskan girl, but when it comes down to it
For most of us, Los Anchorage is gonna have to do it
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7. |
Highway Five
05:42
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I’m packing up again to take a drive down old familiar Highway Five
Where every curve feels like a friend
I’ve traveled north and south since I was born for family, friends, love, and war
I know this road from end to end, hiyiyi
This is my coast, this is my home, from San Diego up to Nome
Haven’t seen it all yet but I will
And I want to memorize it, every inch, want to remember where I’ve been
I bless these waves, I bless this wind, I bless this grace and all my sins
I mean to take the side streets where I can, maps and the cost of gas be damned
The miles are only miles for me
So I breeze through my familiar ports of call, Rice Hill, Ukiah, Kelso, all
right where I know they’re s’posed to be, hiyiyi…
Looks to be a year of go and touch — leaning on my coffee like a crutch
With shards of daydreams in my hands
And the hot springs and the cold creeks, the lonely Bay and the long long weeks
Will frame my jokes & penetrate my plans, hiyiyi …
Road’ll grind you down you give it time, but there are those that don’t much mind
Our corners start to curving ’til we shine
Traveling don’t make me special, no, I am just one more lonely soul
Trying hard to try hard to stay kind, yiyiyi
This is my ghost, this is my home — millions of miles my mind can’t own
No one’s seen it all; no one will
But I want to memorize it, every inch, want to remember where I’ve been
I bless these waves, I bless this wind, bless this grace & all my sins
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8. |
Avocado Intro
00:43
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9. |
The Avocado Song
04:51
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Well I had a good time sweetheart, that’s for sure
Well I wanna thank you for all your trouble
But if you lose my number now I won’t complain
‘Cause you’re my avocado baby — only only good for one day
‘Cause you’re my sushi baby — only only good for one day
Well we had a good run pumpkin, that’s for sure
Well I wanna thank you for all your hustle
But tomorrow I’ll be 500 miles away
‘Cause you’re my faux fur baby — nice and soft but not worth a dime
‘Cause you’re my MTV baby — oh so noisy and not worth my time
Well I had a good laugh dollface, that’s for sure
Well I wanna thank that extra pitcher
But you can stalk me online or at the show
Yeah you can call and text and call I won’t be home
‘Cause I think I do it better on my own
You’re my new high heels baby — only fun for one day
You’re my sushi baby — only only fresh for one day
You’re my avocado baby, my avocado baby
Only good for one thing
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10. |
||||
It takes a little Love and Harmony
Oh, it takes a lot of will to see
That not every one of us is meant to be...a rock star
'Cause not every song has wings to fly
And you know some dreams are doomed to die
But that, my friend, is why -- that's why --
That's why there's karaoke
Karaoke
Karaoke
Karaoke
It takes a little cash and alcohol
To make your office party fun at all
'Cause none of us honestly want to listen to you caterwaul
Your friends here might enjoy it more if we
If we were deaf and dumb and blind, you see
But I'm up next. So one more shot and I'll wait patiently -- patiently --
I'll wait for karaoke
Karaoke
Karaoke
Karaoke
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11. |
||||
All the cool kids keep enthusiasm rationed
Right down to the last explosive ounce
But I’d rather indulge my many passions
Even if my squaritude is overly pronounced
Perhaps I do not strike you as a geek
Without the horn-rimmed glasses or knee-high argyle socks
But nerdery is more than wardrobe-deep
And I’m a nerd down in my heart, and that’s where nerdhood rocks
Oh, I’m better acquainted than a good girl ought to be
With Aragorn and Yo-Saff-Bridge and Worf and HAL and Han
But you don’t really know me and my culture don’t control me
So don’t you pigeonhole me, cuz my phaser’s set to stun
Oh, I have been a nerd since long before I could have heard that
Bookish girls should look and act a certain way
And I’ll still be a geek when I am utterly antique
Because I do not care what normal people say
My superpower’s draining fun from parties
But if I am a misfit then I’m in good company
With Auden, Austen, Hawking, Galileo, and Van Gogh
And countless other weirdos whom you really ought to know
So stow your expectations — no — I won’t fix your PC
And I don’t mind being underrated or ignored
The world is much too interesting to entertain ennui
So I will never play it cool, and I will never once be bored
Oh, I have been a nerd since long before anyone heard that
Pale and scrawny was the latest fashion trend
And I’ll still be a geek after nobody thinks it’s chic
Because I don’t require approval in the end
Oh, I have been a nerd since my first (five-syllable) word
And no TV series or movie changes that
And I’ll still be a geek now Vote for Pedro’s so last week
I do not care whether Milan endorses plaid
Oh, I have been a nerd since long before anyone heard
That pale and scrawny was the latest fashion trend
And I’ll still be a geek after nobody thinks it’s chic
You will find that I have nothing to defend
Oh, I don’t need your approval in the end
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12. |
Vera Flew the Coop
06:09
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Vera flew the coop when she was only soft sixteen
She hopped the first and fastest train with some lousy libertine
He’d spun a pretty story and he’d stole away her youth
And everyone was shocked, ‘cuz Vera always told the truth
Oh, her slip surprised ‘em all, ‘cuz Vera always told the truth
Oh, but Vera dumped that lyin’ lout in the dust behind the train
He’d angled for a child, but he caught a heartless hurricane
He wasn’t worth a bullet; she just pushed him off the side
And she thanked him for her freedom — she was eternally polite
Oh, Vera thanked him for his trouble, cuz she was nothin’ but polite
Li li li li…
Vera ran with lawless men who trembled when she talked
She never flinched, she never smiled, and her gun was always cocked
By twenty-one she’d terrorized the whole of the frontier
They feared her fateful justice, for they knew Vera was sincere
Oh, they ran from Vera’s posse cuz she was perfectly sincere
Vera rode alone the whole of her ferocious life
She never met a boy she didn’t think deserved the knife
Not a one of them was worthy in her steady steely eyes
Cuz they all fronted for their flaws, and Vera always sneered at lies
Yes, she found all men were liars, and Vera couldn’t live with lies
Li li li li…
It was not till Vera’s dying day her hard heart met desire
For the man who shot her through was the only man she could admire
That mortal wound awoke in her a fire no balm could soothe –
She said, “I think I love you,” and Vera always told the truth
As she died, she said, “I love you,” and Vera always told the truth
Li li li li…
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13. |
In the Black
05:03
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You’re in the black – in the black – in the black — ain’t it lovely baby
Not coming back, in the black – ain’t you free
No more debts – no more threats – you’re in the black, baby
Left it all behind – must feel fine – must feel fine
But we — we wish we could see you
We thought you might find time to write us now and then
You’re free — now and you’re lonely
I love you, but please do not ask me to pretend
Come home if you want a friend
I’m right on task – since you asked – I’m doing great, really I am
I don’t blink, I don’t think, I just press on, press on
I’m doing fine – I’m not inclined to crack anytime soon baby
Left us all behind but we’re still fine – swear we’re fine
But we cry for no reason
Late at night when we run out of thoughtless things to do
You’re free now and you’re lonely
Please come home so we can cry with you
I hear that you cry too
We cannot bring you back when home’s not home
We can’t make you pay debts you will not own
We cannot reason with the unforeseen
We can’t compromise when there’s no in-between
But we — we wish we could see you
We thought you might find time to write us now and then
You’re free — now and you’re lonely
I love you, but please do not ask me to pretend
Come home if you want a friend
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14. |
Dark Dark Eyes
05:05
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You don’t know how lovely you are
Sweet sweet soul
With dark dark eyes
Head to heel beautifully marred
Sweet sweet soul
Forgive my surprise
I know you see right through me
But please don’t look away
I’ll comfort you if you’ll cling to me
We’ll cry and we’ll wait for the day
Oh, I wish you could see what I see
Sweet sweet soul
Dark dark eyes
You don’t know how dangerous you are
Sweet sweet soul
With small small hands
I’d tell you the truth, but it’s hard
Sweet sweet soul
You don’t comprehend
But I’ll sing you every known love song
Until you can sleep through the night
I’ll stay by your side if you’ll have me, love
I’ll hold you until you don’t fight
Oh, I wish you could see what I see
Sweet sweet soul
Dark dark eyes
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15. |
Vanilla (I'm Not Sexy)
04:54
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I’m not sexy, but I really want to be
I hear that’s normal for my demographic
I don’t look good in skirts, and even wedges hurt my feet
And I can’t keep a straight face and say ‘orgasmic’
Oh, I’m not hip, but I really want to be
All the bands I like you’ve heard of, and I watch too much TV
And I’m not cute, and I think too hard to be sweet
But not enough to get a real job or converse insightfully –
This is the part where you politely disagree.
My virtues are too dull to entertain,
but you can always count on me.
A nicely balanced budget’s less than thrilling,
and courtesy’s outdated, and sobriety is lame
Reliability is not appealing
But I don’t know any other way to be
I love people and I want them to love me
My virtues are vanilla at best, but you can always call on…
I’ll sing for you, I’ll sing for you
I’ll be the first one by your side
And the last one to leave
I’ll give you everything I’ve got,
I’ll get you anything you need
I’m not much to entertain,
But you can always call on me
I’m sorry I’m not meaner
I’m sorry I don’t bite
I’m sorry I don’t break as many hearts as you might like
I’m not hip or cute or spontaneous or sweet,
And I know that I’m such a fool,
But I’ll love you real good if you’ll let me make
a dumb mistake or two. Oh,
I’m not sexy, but I’ll love you if you let me…
My baby took me out one Saturday night,
and I could tell he could tell I’m a square
I asked him, ‘baby, where are we goin’?’
and he said, ‘apparently nowhere.’
He said-a ‘you don’t bark and you don’t bite,
so what use have I got for you?’
I said, ‘my crimes may not be half so entertaining as yours,
but let me tell you baby what I can do…
I’ll sing for you, I’ll sing for you
I’ll be the first one by your side
And the last one to leave
I’ll give you everything I’ve got,
I’ll get you anything you need
I’m not much to entertain,
But you can always call on me
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16. |
Anchorage
07:21
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Today my childish laughter falls away / the stakes were real and we won’t feel okay
With a knot of bitter worry in my eyes / and a tearless year or two since the last day
The last damn day, the last day that I cried
No no no no / take me back home / no no no no / take me away
Bring her ’round slow / no no no no
Tie her up right / I’ll sail round the night / I’ll dock when it’s day
No no no no / I got no home / no no no no / only a way
Bring her ’round slow / no no no no
I know where I’ll land / I’ll unclench my hands / I’m willing to stay
So see me down, see me down to the edge of the wild
Stroll me out to the end of the pier
Reel me in to the places we knew our own faces
Over wine, over coffee and beer
And anchor me anchor me anchor me anchor me here
Walk with me, the sunset’s three hours long tonight / we’ll blind our disbelieving eyes with light
And if the dusk admits our fear of death / we’ll write a worthy hymn and cork it fast
Cork it fast, we’ll float it west
No no no no / got a ring full of keys / no no no no / not a one of ‘em mine
Bring her ’round slow / no no no no
Fold up the maps / if love goes by haps / why look for a sign
No no no no / I got no home / no no no no / only a way
Bring her ’round slow / no no no no
The water’s not clear / but I’ve washed ashore here / and I’m willing to stay
So see me down, see me down to the edge of the wild
Stroll me out to the end of the bow
Point me back to the places we knew our own faces
Without wondering much why or how
And anchor me anchor me anchor me anchor me now
My body and my mind have scarcely met / I’ve spent my whole life being elsewhere and elsewhen
So ground me in the only house I own / forgive my absence, love — and teach me to live
Teach me to live, to live alone, no no no no, see me down, see me down…
And anchor me anchor me anchor me anchor me here
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17. |
||||
They drank all the pilsner and ate all the oranges
And she thought as the rotten and rusty door hinges
Squealed as he left, how remarkably deftly
How utterly thoroughly he’d failed to confess
He’d evaded the point and eluded the mood
She meant to convey when she laid out the food
Even put up her hair, but the boy wouldn’t bite
And it was almost sexy, but not quite.
Still how could she fret when she’d won that small bet
With a well-meaning friend who had sworn it would end
With a kiss and a cry and a happy reveal
(For what man could resist such a gem of a meal?)
She’d collect on the cash, but her victory stung
She cursed at the cat that had captured her tongue
She broke out the chocolate and started to write
And it was almost helpful, but not quite.
“Dear Sir,
I’ve been dropping hints like bricks on you.
We were both rehearsing for this awkward interview.
I’m done with making small talk and I’m done with being scared,
Because I heard from a friend of a friend
That you came with your speaking points prepared.
Dear Sir, I am taking matters into my own hands.
I hope I do not dry your interest if I dare to take this chance.
Do not underestimate me, boy; look closer and you’ll find
That if you peel back the polite, there might be something fierce inside!
“Remember the fête where the two of us met?
(Less a bolt from the blue, more our social ineptness)
The cool kids swarmed but you clung to the corner,
And that’s why my poor heart, before I could warn her,
Broke from the bunch to bolt to your side –
The rest of me followed, a bit starry-eyed.
And you took off your hat and you bought me some wine,
And it was almost awkward — but not quite.
“Well, we are not so much for big parties and such
(We’d rather observe than be part of the crush),
So you unpacked your camera to frame the good times,
And I nabbed a used napkin to scribble some lines.
The chemistry swept us both off our toes –
You shot no one else — I couldn’t compose –
And you said I was sweet, nearly kissed me goodnight,
And it was almost perfect, but — not — quite –
“Dear Sir,
You’ve been dropping hints like bombs on me.
I have this file of evidence — see exhibits A and B.
I’m done with making small talk and I’m done with being scared,
Because I noticed just how many times tonight you ran your fingers through your hair.
Dear Sir, I am taking matters into my own hands.
I think that I might love you, and I hope you’ll understand
That if I beat you to the punch, it’s just because my patience tried –
And if you peel back the polite, there might be something fierce inside!
“From that day to this, your timidity’s disenchanted me.
You were looking so longing, why couldn’t you say you wanted me?
I could vow that I’ll hate you with all of my will,
But unfortunate me, you can see how I’ll fail.
I’ve been waiting a year — I’ve been waiting for you –
I’ve been biting my tongue, and I’m almost through.
“Dear Sir,
I am dropping my last guard for you.
I’m fearful and I’m foolish and I’m agitated too.
All this anticipation without consummation, it’s hard on a poor girl’s pride
And though I doubt I’ll send this letter — If I did you’d see how I’ve tried.”
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18. |
Free Bird (bonus track)
03:11
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Babe I love your windowsill
You asked me here, I think I will
So settle in and cock your ear
Because this birdie likes to sing you
The songs you like to hear
But babe you better behave
Watch your mouth and wash your face
Lock up the dog and turn off your phone
And don’t think you can take me home
‘Cause I’m a free bird
I’m a free little bird
So set your net aside
And lock your cage up in the closet
Not gonna say what you want me to
Play what you want me to
Stay where you want me to
Fly — when you see just how high I go
You’ll surely know
I don’t just sing for you.
You can beg and plead and say you need me
But you don’t.
And if my independence vexes you
I’m sure you’ll cope.
Find some other hen to hold.
So babe I’ll decorate your windowsill
Enjoy and keep a picture if you will
But in a stitch I got to fly
And babe I think that you know you know why
‘Cause I’m a free bird
I’m a free little bird
So set your net aside
And lock your cage up in the closet
Not gonna say what you want me to
Play what you want me to
Rhyme when you want me to
Fly — when you see just how high I go
You’ll finally know
There’s things I won’t sing — even for you.
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19. |
Fret (bonus track)
03:02
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Oh, when you kiss m-me goodnight, I wonder
If you could ever mean as much to me as I do to you
I fret ‘n’ fumble with my thoughts; I want you
But only on my terms and on my time, I want it perfect and easy
How to want you, how to give you what you deserve to get
How to tell you what my heart doesn’t feel just yet
How to be a good girl, how I try, oh my
But still, you love me, you love me, love me…
And something in me must love you too
Or else why would I write this song about you?
Oh, lately I’ve been thinking about your sweet, sweet smile
And whether I am right to let you fight for my so-twisted heart
‘f’I had the time I’d make you mine; you’re beautiful
And I am oh so wrong to let this song say how I’ll never deserve you, no no
I think instead of feel, but if that’s okay with you
I will be your dearest friend — I’ll be your lover too
And I will never ever leave if you will have me now
But dear, the trouble is with love — trouble is with love –
I’m not sure if my heart will ever know how
And something in me must love you too
Or I’d be able to breathe when I think when I think about you, ooh
I’ve half a mind to take some time with you…
I fret ‘n’ fumble with my thoughts, but I don’t feel anything…
I wish I knew if I could love you too…
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Marian Call Alaska
Marian Call has things to say. She sounds a little like Ingrid Michaelson meets They Might Be Giants & Regina Spektor for bourbon & laughs, which sounds improbable, but give it a try. She hails from Alaska and tours North America and Europe, and she lives on Twitter. Her songs are quirky, sharp, surprising confections in every genre full of rich dark carmelized sugar, savor, & spice. ... more
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