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Blue Macabre

by Rob Birdwell

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1.
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
2.
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...
3.
My Muse 04:34
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
4.
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...
5.
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...
6.
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
7.
Where U At 03:44
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...
8.
Them Bones 05:27
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?
9.
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...
10.
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...
11.
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...

about

10 original songs by Rob Birdwell

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released September 1, 2014

Rob Birdwell: lead and backing vocals, piano & synths, trumpet, flugelhorn, cornet, tenor sax, trombone, bass, drums, melodica, percussion

Creighton Lindsay plays guitar on Swimming Upstream

Nick Rivard plays guitar on Nobody’s Business

Dave Storrs plays drums and percussion on Them Bones

Dave Leslie plays piano on Beautiful Moments

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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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