1. |
How Many Times
03:00
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How Many Times words and music by Rob Birdwell
how many times
must I do what I’ve been told
close my eyes
and jump head first
into that rabbit hole
how many times
have I got to toe the line
looks like one more time
...
how many times
must I suspend belief
in search of satisfaction
in hope of some relief
how many times
will it take sweet clementine
looks like one more time
...
how many times
will we close our eyes and ears
to all reason and compassion
see only shadows and not the tears
how many times
must we read that sad headline
looks like one more time
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2. |
Swimming Upstream
03:05
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Swimming Upstream words and music by Rob Birdwell
I’m on the road less traveled
in fact there ain’t no road
it’s just me and this rusty canteen
swimming upstream...
searching for a love that’s right
and I want her tonight
but she’s gotta be all
peaches and cream
swimming upstream...
I know the river is wide
the current is strong
and I should drift on with the flow
but when you’re swimming upstream
you learn the darndest things
down-streamers never know
I’m gonna kick that can
stick it to the man
yeah everybody’s got to follow their dream
swimming upstream...
(solo)
I know the river is wide
the current is strong
and I should drift on with the flow
but when you’re swimming upstream
you learn the darndest things
down-streamers never know
don’t want no easy ride
just wanna surf that tide
and get high to ‘a love supreme’
swimming upstream...
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3. |
My Muse
04:34
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My Muse words and music by Rob Birdwell
my muse is hard to find
can hardly call her mine
where she goes I never know
playful as the breeze
walks away with ease
to love her is to let her go
looking through the crowd
I see her face
she disappears
and then I’m lost in space…
solos...
like some romantic dream
they’re never what they seem
but I get lost within her eyes
a voice like Babylon
hair that’s short or long
to throw me off with her disguise
she won’t deceive me
she just likes to play
would never leave me
she’s just far away...
I hope to find her
in my minor mood...
call the doctor
it’s blue macabre
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4. |
Nobody's Business
02:41
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Nobody’s Business words and music by Rob Birdwell
what is it I’m lookin’ at
what is it that I see
and why would I want it to be known
when that’s nobody’s business
nobody’s business but my own....
nobody’s business
nobody’s business but my own
where did I go last night
who was I hangin’ with
and where has that little birdie flown
well that’s nobody’s business
nobody’s business but my own....
nobody’s business but my own
solos...
why do I dig up the past
when I’m still present tense
and still I upturn every single stone
well that’s nobody’s business
nobody’s business but my own....
nobody’s business but my own
why do you affect me so
raisin’ up my pulse you add a
flush and a blush to my skin tone
well that’s nobody’s business
nobody’s business but my own....
nobody’s business
nobody’s business but my own...
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5. |
Long Way To Go
03:42
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Long Way to Go words and music by Rob Birdwell
sailing away
day after day
laughing like fools in rain
we had a long way to go
long way to go
traveling roads
carrying loads
Mulholland wind in our hair
we had a long way to go
long way to go
and it’s not quite the world we imagined
back when dreams held the wolf at the door
I can turn from the past but now something is missing
and there’s no going back to before
further downstream
gathering steam
rowing on side by side
we had a long way to go
long way to go
there is no way to know why it happened
while we somersaulted on the trapeze
spinning this way and that now we’re left here to soldier
on with these memories
(interlude)
and it’s almost the way we imagined
back when dreams held the wolf at the door
I can look to the future with eyes a bit wiser
but there’s no going back to before
further downstream
gathering steam
rowing on side by side
we have a long way to go
long way to go...
we still have a long way to go...
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6. |
Harry and the Mannequin
03:17
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Harry and the Mannequin words and music by Rob Birdwell
he met her at work
at the department store
he asked politely
can I see you some more?
they started hooking up
the town started talking
it looked so strange
seeing them walking
in the park holding hands
two lovers loving
and making their plans
for the good days to come
when two of the lonely become one
they’re gonna get married
but no one knows when
it’ll be a quiet little party
for harry and the mannequin
the town mayor painted
the pair kind of kooky
the city council deemed them
legal, but spooky
but what did they know
about a love so right?
out in the sun
sharing every delight
and in the car at lover’s lane
steaming up the windows
made it all very plain
that the good days would come
when two of the lonely become one
they’re gonna get married
but no one knows when
it’ll be a quiet little party
for harry and the mannequin
well, his friends all say
he had his doubts
but never wavered
when the pressures would mount
how was he gonna live without
her perfect body and bank account?
they’re gonna get married
but no one knows when
it’ll be a quiet little party
for harry and the mannequin
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7. |
Where U At
03:44
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Where U At words and music by Rob Birdwell
she was on her way
heading out to some place fun
to see some guy she met
playing baseball under an American sun
where u at
that’s all she said
that’s all she said
in a text message driving
where u at
and that’s all she wrote
when everybody knows
something good’s worth waiting for
he was on a ride
with his girl at his side
cruising straight on the money
a casual reply on the sly
what the hell, lol
boom, crash, ah honey
where u at
that’s all she said
that’s all she said
in a text message driving
where u at
and that’s all she wrote
so promise me please
that you’ll keep it
on the sweet and down low
it’s the same old story
technology for you and me
is like apes at The Modern Museum of Art
much too late for sorry
so light my days
with a cryptic phrase
before I fall apart
where u at
that’s all she said
that’s all she said...
where u at
and that’s all she wrote...
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8. |
Them Bones
05:27
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Them Bones words and music by Rob Birdwell
them bones are decorated
with lipstick and lace
them bones disappeared
without a word or trace
them bones are cracked and broken
no they won’t be healing soon
them bones are being fought for
on the banks of a lagoon
you can jump them, bump them
make them rattle in the night
find them, grind them
into powder fine and white
though your spirit may be willing
and your flesh a little weak
them bones hold sway
over everything you seek
them bones are very ancient
from some prehistoric beast
them bones are all that’s left
of the carnivorous feast
them bones are feeling tired
lay your weary bones to rest
them bones were purloined
but nobody's confessed
you can jump them, bump them
make them rattle in the night
find them, grind them
into powder fine and white
though your spirit may be willing
and your flesh a little weak
them bones hold sway
over everything you seek
them bones are misbehaving
they’re not doing what they should do
them bones are all I got
and I got a bone to pick with you
them bones are rolling snake eyes
in a smoky backroom
them bones are consecrated
in a vacuous tomb
you can jump them, bump them
make them rattle in the night
find them, grind them
into powder fine and white
though your spirit may be willing
and your flesh a little weak
them bones hold sway
over everything you seek
them bones are missing links
they’re the truth of what we are
them bones are tightly packed
in the case of your guitar
them bones are being lazy
postponing the overdue
them bones are driving me crazy
they look so good on you
you can jump them, bump them
make them rattle in the night
find them, grind them
into powder fine and white
though your spirit may be willing
and your flesh a little weak
them bones hold sway
over everything you seek
can’t you feel it...
can’t you feel it...in your bones?
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9. |
Beautiful Moments
05:18
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Beautiful Moments words and music by Rob Birdwell
when the moon is out tonight
I will pause at the sight
and reflect on the times
we shared long ago
when the night lark is singing
I will sing right along
and try to recall
that old melody we wrote...
I can google your name
but I won’t find a trace
of those beautiful moments
from another time and place
I can hold my breath
till I’m blue in the face
still those beautiful moments
are elusive as grace...
when the sun is on the rise
I will rise up and shine
slip inside my space suit
and fly far, far away
to venus or mars
either one will do
see the earth from the other side
the other side of you...
I can google your name
but I won’t find a trace
of those beautiful moments
from another time and place
I can hold my breath
till I’m blue in the face
still those beautiful moments
are elusive as grace...
thought I saw you in a passing car
heading west on hollywood boulevard
whatever happened to old you-know-who
yea, times are pretty strange now
whatch-you gunna do...
when the moon is out tonight
I will pause at the sight
and reflect on the times
we shared long ago
when the night lark is singing
I will sing right along
and try to recall
that old melody we wrote...
I can google your name
but I won’t find a trace
of those beautiful moments
from another time and place
I can hold my breath
till I’m blue in the face
still those beautiful moments
are elusive as grace...
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10. |
Love The Most
02:01
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Love the Most words and music by Rob Birdwell
if I had known
oh, if I'd only known
I would have held my tongue
and showed how much I love you
but I was tangled and confused
why are the ones most abused
the least likely
when they're the ones we love the most
I know things will never be the same
but I’m holding on through the driving rain
and I know there’ll never be a way to tell you
but I’m trying just the same
if I had known
oh, and I should have known
I would have held my tongue
and showed how much I love you...
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11. |
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Swimming Upstream words and music by Rob Birdwell
I’m on the road less traveled
in fact there ain’t no road
it’s just me and this rusty canteen
swimming upstream...
searching for a love that’s right
and I want her tonight
but she’s gotta be all
peaches and cream
swimming upstream...
I know the river is wide
the current is strong
and I should drift on with the flow
but when you’re swimming upstream
you learn the darndest things
down-streamers never know
I’m gonna kick that can
stick it to the man
yeah everybody’s got to follow their dream
swimming upstream...
(solo)
I know the river is wide
the current is strong
and I should drift on with the flow
but when you’re swimming upstream
you learn the darndest things
down-streamers never know
don’t want no easy ride
just wanna surf that tide
and get high to ‘a love supreme’
swimming upstream...
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Rob Birdwell Corvallis, Oregon
Rob Birdwell is a songwriter, composer, producer, and performer. He lives in Corvallis, Oregon. He sings, plays trumpet, sax, bass, piano, ukulele, and more. Thanks for listening and sharing his music!
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