The Comforters

Lyrics for Transplants (PDF)
Copyright Big Timbre Works 2006.

Mia

Mia plays an architect
Knows her lines, arcs, and arches
In debt to herself
Poor despite her wealth
Gets to work later each morning

The warden and the prisoner
Stare outside through the same eyes
Latent thoughts emerge
Take stock and converge

She goes out
Leaving the firm, heading downtown
Looks at all of her buildings fall down
Picking up speed, dropping the weight
Seeing the light that was blocked
She goes out
Leaving the firm, heading downtown

Is it really acting?
You do what you must
And get so used to it
Takes a second to adjust

Leaving the firm, heading downtown
Looks at all of her buildings fall down
Picking up speed, dropping the weight
Seeing the light that was blocked
She goes out
Leaving the firm, heading downtown
Looks at all of her buildings fall down
Picking up speed, dropping the weight
Seeing the light that was blocked
She goes out
She goes out
She goes out
She goes out
Mia plays an architect
Knows her lines, arcs and arches

Lazy Sundays

I’ve been hanging around the house
I’ve been shooting off my mouth
Sleeping
Dreaming
Mostly just keeping to myself
Ain’t this living
Long live lazy sundays
On the porch
With the radio real low
Sunday morning hallelujah
Thank god for silent prayer
Thinking
Being
Mostly just drinking by myself
Ain’t this living
Long live lazy sundays
On the porch
With the radio real low
Sunday
Sunday is the world
Frozen in a pose
Close to heaven
I suppose
Long live
Lazy sundays
On the porch
With the radio real low
On the porch
With the radio real low
On the porch
With the radio

Saturday Night

Theres one thing i wouldn’t do
There’s a line that lies between wrong and right
And though it won’t change what you’ll go through
I wouldn’t break your heart on a saturday night
You’re as close to love as i’ve found
When you need someone you just hold on tight
But as it stands i can’t be bound
And sunday morning ain’t saturday night
Hurts me when you laugh this way
It’d be easier if we would fight
I could start one any ole day
But not on our last saturday night
I don’t know where i’m going to
When i hit that road in the morning light
Won’t be phoenix that i know
I’ll never forget saturday night

The Call

Baby, we shouldn’t be here all alone
It’s a heart attack that found us walking down the street
We mistake ourselves for decent people
We’re only discreet
Hand me the phone
I’ll make the call
Hand me the phone
I’ll make the call
Without care, our affair grew out of hand
Foolish rendezvous that fails to fool us anymore
We were careless never thinking of them
All the pain they’re in for
Hand me the phone
I’ll make the call
Hand me the phone
I’ll make the call

I Want To Rock

I’ll climb the rickety stairs
Jimmy the lock, i know how
You don’t have to be scared
I’m just coming up now
I’m just coming up now
And i want to rock so softly
If it’s the last thing we ever do
And i want to rock so softly
If it’s the last thing we do
And i want to rock so softly with you
I’ll soothe your sensitive nerves
Divert your fears i know how
You don’t have to be scared
I’m just coming up now
I’m just coming up now
And i want to rock so softly
If it’s the last thing we ever do
And i want to rock so softly
If it’s the last thing we do
And i want to rock so softly
With you in my arms
What would be the harm
No cause for alarm
It’s love that’s driving me mad
And i want to rock so softly
If it’s the last thing we ever do
And i want to rock so softly
If it’s the last thing we do
And i want to rock so softly with you, i do
And i want to rock to softly with you, i do
And i want to rock to softly with you

Young Republicans

It’s always holidays that bring you down
So much left to say and there’s no one around
You start drinking up the past now
Listening for those sounds now
When you’re down they’re all you needed
In this town of the young republicans
In this town full of young republicans
Ever since light went away
You feel with your soul
You’re sliding right inside
Another winter’s day
Of drinking up the past now
Listening for those sounds now
When you’re down they’re all you needed
In this town of the young republicans
In this town full of young republicans
And there’s no one around to get you through
Just young republicans as opposed to you
And it gets inside your mind like winters do
And you’re shouting at the walls that shelter sound
Couldn’t feel more alone in an empty town
Still drinking up the past now
Still hearing all those sounds now
Ones you can depend on
In this town of the young republicans
In this town full of young republicans
In this town
In this town
In this town

Lucy

Curse the day that you found her
Walking down by cedar lake
Morning time she went out of state
Left you sleeping
So you packed your belongings
Shuffled down to the highway
Hitched your first ride of the day
Trailing lucy
Lucy, Lucy
Took a souvenir as a lover
Collecting memories for lonely hours
Oh, no
Lucy, Lucy
Was a heart ever so pure
It lacked all self defence?
Oh, yes
Bicarbonates and cigarettes
Yeah love is in the air tonight
Bicarbonates and cigarettes
Yeah love is in the air
For lucy, lucy
Are the covers high enough?
Are the windows covered up tonight?
Oh, no
Lucy, Lucy
Your lover came to see you fall into your sleep
Oh, no
Bicarbonates and cigarettes
Yeah love is in the air tonight
Bicarbonates and cigarettes
Yeah love is in the air
For lucy
Hollowed out
Too late now
Nothing left
To behold
In the dark
Two lost eyes
Staring back
Cheap motel

Driving Off The Edge Of The World

The short life that i’ve known
Ended six towns back
This desert road wasn’t made
For an old cadillac
Headlights get beat down
By the darkness all around
Driving off the edge of the world
This cadillac was fired
From the devil’s own gun
And i struggle to remember
What i have done
Headlights get beat down
By the darkness all around
Driving off the edge of the world
There’s a distant song
That i have never heard
No telling how i know it
Word for word
Bye Bye Blues
If only life were so
As if this desert were a radio
Tuning me in
On this dark and deadly road
Driving off the edge of the world
Driving off the edge of the world

Reasons

When will the sun
Fade away from this place?
One life won’t do
It can’t fill this empty space
We have reasons to stay here
We have reasons to go anywhere
I don’t miss things i can’t see
I only miss what’s right in front of me
So don’t go telling me about memories
When will the stars
Outshine these city lights
Handfuls won’t do
When we’ve seen country skies
We need a reason to stay dry
We need a reason to be stuck inside
I don’t think it’s safe to stay
I think it’s time we finally made our way
Made our getaway
I know the road we’re on
The talk of mountains, pine trees, chopping firewood
Ain’t the only one that’s good
We have reasons to stay here
We have reasons to go anywhere
I don’t miss things i can’t see
I only miss what’s right in front of me
So don’t go telling me about memories
One life
It won’t do
One life
It won’t do
One life
Won’t do

(c) 2006 Big Timbre Works
All songs written by Pia and Jason Robbins, except "Young Republicans" - written by Jason Robbins
ASCAP

Lyrics for Two Piece Orchestra (c) Big Timbre Works 2010

Two Piece Orchestra

I play air timpani with the Boston Symphony, hello
You are first chair violin
Me, I’m too undisciplined, I know
Double bass, clarinet, vibraphone, castanets
I see you’ve met Mr. Glockenspiel

We’re a two piece orchestra, smile for the camera, hello
We both played in Julie’s yard, where we studied air sitar
Sympathetic strings plucked by the wind

We’re a two piece orchestra, smile for the camera, hello
I’ll go back to timpani to complete our symphonissimo
Lest we anger classicists, you and I will end this with a long, long, long,
Long, long, long, long, long rest

The Fall of Fall

I saw the fall of fall and winter won
One red leaf still hanging on
It fell like blood upon the fallen snow
End of war, the final blow

I saw the fall of fall and winter won
No redress, what’s done is done
The sky’s a battleship shade of grey
Dispatched to keep the sun at bay

Snore, snore, the brown bear’s bound to snore
Soar, Soar, the bluebird’s bound to soar
And o’er the land, the seeds, like spies, are planted in the underground

Snore, snore, the brown bear’s bound to snore
Soar, Soar, the bluebird’s bound to soar
And o’er the land, the seeds, like spies, are planted in the underground

Gibraltar

Broken down out of town
On America-go-round
Engine makes a choking sound
First a lurch, then a jolt, like a stray lightning bolt
Started our unstable colt

And like the rain came Gibraltar’s way
The roof above the plains quickly melts away
Here, take me I’m yours
Do as you please
Take me, I’m yours

Every kid loves balloons
Wants to sail them to the moon
Old folks sing a different tune
Underpaid, overdrawn
Broadcast on the intercom
Endless, till one day it’s gone

And like the rain came Gibraltar’s way
The roof above the plains quickly melts away
Here, take me I’m yours
Do as you please
Take me, I’m yours

Remember the scene?
The narrow escape from in between troops closing in
Shouting, “Stop right where you are or we’ll shoot!”
Or we’ll shoot

Well here, take me I’m yours
Do as you please
Take me, I’m yours
Do as you please
Do as you please
Take me, I’m yours

Scenes From A Sleeping Car

Tomorrow morning we ride the rails into the sunrise
Washington to New York
Changing clocks and our history
Crossing the country

We can read all the books that we meant to
Make a list of things we intend to do

Wake up to the sound of light conversation
Too faint to discern the words
Probably nothing we could use to extort a ransom
Paid to save the name of a handsome man

So we’ll keep this book of sketches from our trip
See what it fetches

And honey, I love the way they’re turning out
Money is lovely when you’re in a drought
And suddenly the seal on our dream
Is broken to reveal what it means

Tomorrow morning is close at hand
Sleep if you can
Washington ain’t going anywhere anytime soon
Where would the sun go?
Still needs a place for setting
When it leaves where we’re heading

And honey I love the way they’re turning out
Money is lovely when you’re in a drought
And suddenly the seal on our dream
Is broken to reveal what it means

Would It Break Your Heart?

The fading light
The lone house on a beaten road
The makeshift cross
The children gather round below

Go slow, nice and easy
Tip toe, what’s the hurry?
When you know, you know, you know

The hollow fir
The pall of dust behind the door
The cavalry
The empty show of reverie

Go slow, nice and easy
Tip toe, what’s the hurry?
When you know, you know, you know
And you know, you know, you know

But what about you my love
What about you my love
What about you my love
Would it break your heart?
Would it break your heart?
Would it break your heart to see this through?

Go slow, nice and easy
Tip toe, what’s the hurry?
When you know, you know, you know
And you know, you know, you know

But what about you my love
What about you my love
What about you my love
Would it break your heart?
Would it break your heart?
Would it break your heart to see this through?

Upside Down

I’m way down, upside down
Like a bat inside a cave
What a strange way to behave
I’m way down, underground
Cut out from the outside world spinning round

Winding back road
Desert front door
That old mail slot never did close
Put my ear to it like a nosey nose

And now I’m way down, upside down
Like a bat inside a cave
What a strange way to behave
I’m way down, underground
Cut out from the outside world spinning round

Winding back road
Desert front door
That old mail slot never did close
Put my ear to it like a nosey nose
And now I’m way down

Oh, it’s the only, only blue I never knew
Oh, it’s the only, only blue I never knew
Oh, it’s the only

Winding back road
Desert front door
That old mail slot never did close
Put my ear to it like a nosey nose
And now I’m way down

Oh, it’s the only, only blue I never knew
Oh, it’s the only, only blue I never knew
Oh, it’s the only

I’m way down, upside down
Like a bat inside a cave
What a strange way to behave
I’m way down, underground
Cut out from the outside world spinning round
I’m way down, way down
I’m way down, way down

Strange

Saw you today
You were miles away
Soaked to the bone with youth
Wasting away
When the warning came
Soaked to the bone with you

Isn’t it strange nobody came?
It’s such a nice day outside
Isn’t it strange this little game?
Having a good day, but it’s so strange
It’s so strange
It’s so strange
It’s so strange

Needed the world
When the world didn’t come
I settled for a smile
Should have held out and pushed for you
I’m soaked to the bone with you

Isn’t it strange nobody came?
It’s such a nice day outside
Isn’t it strange this little game?
Having a good day, but it’s so strange
It’s so strange
It’s so strange

It’s so strange no one on the bus is going my way
I said to myself, “My god, that’s strange.”
Wanna get happy, not get away
I wanna get happy, but there’s no way

Isn’t it strange nobody came?
It’s such a nice day outside
Isn’t it strange this little game?
Having a good day, but it’s so strange
It’s so strange
It’s so strange
It’s so strange
So strange

Rolling On

Wish on pinpricks in the night
Worn out curtain rising
Too awake to fall asleep
To beat to rise

Short blast whistle, long decay
Nothing echoes
Only silent worries stored inside empty silos

Why sigh if you’ve air enough to speak?
Why not cry if you’ve tears enough to weep?
It’s rolling on
It’s rolling on

Pillow, porch step, and a plank
Restless windmill spinning
Single light from all them cars
What’s she reading?

Why sigh if you’ve air enough to speak?
Why not cry if you’ve tears enough to weep?
It’s rolling on
It’s rolling on
It’s rolling on
It’s rolling on
It’s rolling on

Redbird In The Rain
(*Written By Daniel Sherman Jones BMI)

Up in the air like a roman candle on a summer night
Out in the yard just like a redbird in the rain
Stuck inside on a snow day with a box of art supplies
Magic marker, paper, glue, and tape

Is it true, what they say about California
Being where young men of promise run and shine?
It is true, what they say about trying anyway?
Though your heart and soul might shudder when situations call for spine

I need you like a mixed up kid needs to find another school
I need you just like a teacher needs a rule
I need you like a life guard needs a whistle and some shades
I need you just like tomorrow needs today

Is it true, what they say about California
Being where young men of promise run and shine?
It is true, what they say about trying anyway?
Though your heart and soul might shudder as you watch the days go by

Feed your faith; your doubts will starve
It’s written on the wall
Twinkle, twinkle little star
But surely that ain’t all

I need you like the police need a riot in the street
I need you just like the Raiders need the Chiefs
I need you like a sparkler needs a summer night so blue
Do you need me the way that I need you?
Do you need me the way that I need you?
Do you need me the way that I need you?
Do you need me the way that I need you?

The World Has Room For Me

Open up to the world that welcomes you
Said my sweet love to me, it’s true
If he only knew what I would do
To know the world has room, room for me too

Spent the better part of the summer here
Weighing my choices on the pier
Sitting in the sun, what do I fear?
For now, I know the world has room for me, dear
There’s room for me now

And happiness, happiness is something everybody’s shooting for
And happiness, happiness is something nothing ever can cure

When you know the world has room, room for you too
The world has room, room for you too
The world has room, room for you

Happiness is something
Happiness is nothing
Happiness is something nothing ever can cure

Happiness is something
Happiness is nothing
Happiness is something nothing ever can cure

All songs written by Jason Robbins and Pia Robbins (Big Timbre Works, ASCAP) except “Strange” written by Jason Robbins (Big Timbre Works, ASCAP), “The World Has Room For Me” written by Jason Robbins (Big Timbre Works, ASCAP) and Martin Borsanyi (ASCAP), and “Redbird in the Rain” written by Daniel Sherman Jones (BMI).