The New Pornographers Album

Under your wheels, the hope of spring,
Mirage of loss, a few more things.
You left your sorrow dangling,
It hangs in air like a school cheer.

Complex notes inside the chords,
On every wall, inflections carved.
Deep as lakes and dark as stars,
Remember we were the volunteers.

(Ooh...) Courts knew this and nothing more.
(Ooh...) Now it's my rights versus yours.

Under your wheels, your hopeless reign.
You fall too hard, we're up too late.
We hang suspended from the heights
Until it's safer to walk here.

Under your wheels, your chance is with
The easy call, the called-off search.
The medicine, it still won't work,
But there's dangerous levels of it here.

(Ooh...) Same thing as the other time,
(Ooh...) But now it's your rights versus mine.

The truth in one free afternoon,
The truth in one free afternoon.

Under my wheels, the chance is held,
Gave me to save me from myself.
Spectacles painted with my shaking hand.

Fingers in paints, in paints we brought,
Thinking we'd leave them when we're not,
Flying the flags of new empires in rags.

The new empire in rags, the truth in one free afternoon.
A new empire in rags, the truth in one free afternoon.
A new empire in rags, the truth in one free afternoon.
A new empire in rags, the truth in one free afternoon.

Under your wheels, the fits and starts,
The time to dabble in the arts,
To tease the packs of dogs in charge,
But, kid, it's always still me.

Under your wheels, the hope of spring.
Mirage of loss, a few more things.
The medicine, it still won't sing,
But there's dangerous levels of it here.

Your rights over my rights now,
We came to the right place.
Your rights over my rights now,
Your rights over my rights now,
We came to the right place.
Your rights over my rights now,
Your rights over my rights now.

When John he saw the numbers he lied
Made up the whole thing, failed when he tried
To cash in on his cautious new fame
Always the numbers but never the name

When we hit the numbers we broke
Broke in and changed them changed as we spoke
We knew that we would always be down
Hitting the numbers spun way 'round

And somebody beside you
Slipped your head inside the crown
The princes of the paupers
And all the old showstoppers
'Til this moment's still unknown

Sirens' songs have tried, too
Yet, she takes you as her own
The princes of the paupers
And all the old showstoppers
'Til this moment's still unknown

And when he got the numbers he thought
Thought of his friends who slowed to a halt
Who had questioned to no avail
Some knew the answers, some wouldn't tell

When Gabriel saw the numbers he fell
Fell through the clouds into the great well
But woke up before he hit the ground
No one had noticed still he looked 'round

And somebody beside you
Slipped your head inside the crown
The princes of the paupers
All the old showstoppers
'Til this moment's still unknown

Sirens' songs have tried, too
Yet, she takes you as her own
The princes of the paupers
And all the old showstoppers
'Til this moment's still unknown

With her hand to guide you
You are nothing if not home
The princes of the paupers
And all the old showstoppers
'Til this moment's still unknown

Yes I know it was late
We were greeting the sun
Before long

And you live with someone
I live with somebody too
Leave it there

For safe keeping
Wander the west village in flames
That was the custom
Come dawn

On the walls of the day
In the shade of the sun
We wrote down

Another vision of us
We were the challengers of
The unknown

"Be safe" you say
Whatever the mess you are, you're mine, okay
If that is the custom
I'm down

Na-na na-na na-na na-na na-na
Na-na na-na na-na na-na na-na...

Until I see you around
Until we clear the accounts
Leave it there

Leave it to us
We are the challengers of
The unknown

Oh-la, oh-la, oh-la, oh-la
Oh-la, oh-la, oh-la, oh-la

I took a plane, I took a train -- ah, who cares? You always end up in the city.
I said to Carl, "look up for once, see just how the sun sets in the sky."
I said to John, "do you think the girls here ever wonder how they got so pretty?"
Oh, well, I do.

Look out upon the myriad harbour.
Look out upon the myriad harbour.
Look out upon the myriad harbour.

All the boys with their homemade microphones have very interesting sounds.
All the girls fall into ruin, droppin' out of school,
Breakin' Daddies' hearts just to hang around.

I walked into the local record store and asked for an American music anthology.
It sounds fun.
They tore at my skirt and stuck it on the walls at P.S.1.

I took a plane, I took a train -- ah, who cares? You always end up in the city.
Stranded at Bleecker and Broadway, and looking for something to do.
Someone somewhere asked me, "Is there anything in particular I can help you with?"
All I ever wanted help with was you.

Look out upon the Myriad Harbour.
Look out upon the Myriad Harbour.
Look out upon the Myriad Harbour.
Look out upon the Myriad Harbour.

All those things that go to make heaven and this
Where midnight was, were splashed across the canvas
Midnight, who was a girl
Midnight, who lost control and found this world

With matter removed of divine dimension
Our time reduced to an honorable mention
This world, which time forgot
This world, it lost control and then saw God

All of the things that go to make heaven and earth are here
All of the things that go to make heaven and earth
Put your new weight in gold and see what it's worth
All of the things that go to make heaven and earth are here
All of the things that go to make heaven and this
Success was survival and, kid, it still is
Success was survival and, kid, it still is

Did you think of something He didn't think of?
Crashing into horizons, on the brink of success, hurrah
Success which was survival gone too far

All of the things that go to make heaven and earth are here
All of the things that go to make heaven and earth
Put your new weight in gold and see what it's worth
All of the things that go to make heaven and earth are here
All of the things that go to make heaven and this
Success was survival and, kid, it still is
Success was survival and, kid, it still is
Success was survival and, kid, it still is
Success was survival and, kid, it still is

Ready to bolt
at the first glimpse of failsafe
Signing my checks
with a name that's not mine

Clocking the hours that spin round through the tail end
There's gold in these hills ahead
We both had a hand in it

You and me both, kid
You and me both, kid

Raising a flag
at the first sign of failsafe
Another red flag and
we've lost half the team

I left the game
to find you at the day's end
There's gold in these hills ahead
We both had a hand in it

You and me both, kid
You and me both, kid

Ooooh
Ooooh
Ooooh

You and me both, kid
You and me both, kid

In every story, every secret told
You are not the first to wake up
To learn your lines before you have the part
You woke up early and you walk up torn
You the temporary boarder
The heat wave humming in the house of cards

You spun chapter into rapture there
Yeah, you were as brave as traffic
You chased the spotlight into her arms
And you forgot that you could file the knot
That you were still the person sleeping
The heat wave humming in the house of cards

A play for the girl
A cross for a hook
Sinking into the green sea wonder
Under the sea
Walking the floor
Over the waves the wheeling thunder

Something's unguided in the sky tonight
There is something unguided in the sky

You wrote yourself into a corner, safe
Easy to defend your borders
A fallen saint into a whispered time
Killing time because I have to, why?
Because it isn't mine, remember?
Killing time because it wasn't mine

You're earning your stripes
You're counting the stars
You're winding your barely-working watch
You're lucky to be on a land like you are
Lucky you've already become

There's something unguided in the sky tonight
There is something unguided in the sky

And why wait
For the weakened state
To lie next
To the weaker sex

And why wait
For the weakened state
To lie next
To the weaker sex

You're earning your stripes
You're counting the stars
You're winding your barely-working watch
You're lucky to be on a land like you are
Lucky you've already become

There's something unguided in the sky tonight
There is something unguided in the sky
There's something unguided in the sky tonight
There is something unguided in the sky

Cruising the magnetic strip
I seized the ship
I wanted it to be me that was with you
Site unseen, shot through with meaning
I ran to the door, looked around
I fell to the floor just to see what was down there

Your little chorus of angels
Howling "What gives in?
Hey, what is with you?"
Just look around at how the other half lives
So you did
But you couldn't decide it

Entering White Cecilia
Entering White Cecilia
What's eating you tonight?
Who cares?
There's a bunch of them
So what if you saw one of them go?

Cruising the magnetic strip
I seized the ship
I wanted it to be me that was with you
Site unseen, shot through with meaning
You ran to the door
I fell to the ground
You had a view and the ballroom was down there

Entering White Cecilia
Entering White Cecilia
What's eating you tonight?
Who cares?
There was a bunch of them
So what if you had one of them go?

Yes, a heart will always go one step too far
Come the morning and the four corners, I see
What the moral of the back story could be
Come with me, go places

And a heart will always stay one day too long
Always hoping for the hot flashes to come
For the glue to dry on our new creation
Come with me, go places

Come head on, full circle
Our arms filled with miracles
Play hearts, kid, they work well
Like classics, play aces
Stay with me, go places
Once more for the ages

Yes, a heart should always go one step too far
Come the morning and the day winding like dreams
Come the morning, every blue shade of green
Come with me, go places

Come head-on, full circle
Our arms filled with miracles
Play hearts, kid, they work well
Like magic, play aces
Stay with me, go places
Once more for the ages

Come one now, come all ye
This story breaks free here
Tales from the back pages
From somewhere, Encina
Deus ex machina
Good morning, Christina

Come head on, full circle
Our path blocked but sure we'll
Make records, then set them
Make copies, win races
Stay with me, go places
Once more for the ages

Sweetheart, I was trapped in transit
My lost ride
When your wild eye wandered here lady
Go out by the sweetheart tree
But don't let go
It's how my friend history here made me

What's the weight of the world worth to ya, kid
Go write down what you see
And see how far it can go
What's the weight of the world worth to your side
Here is where you got lost
And here is how you got by

And here's the mutiny I promised you
And here's the party it turned into

Heartbeat, you abandoned searches
Your lost ride
You're in my lost country now lady
Sweethearts in the crosstown wild
You don't let go
To the new live history goes with me

What's the weight of the world worth to ya, kid
Go write down what you see
And see how far it can go

What's the weight of the world worth to your side
Here is where you got lost
And here is how you got by

And here's the mutiny I promised you
And here's the party it turned into
And here's the mutiny I promised you
And here's the moment it turned into (x4)

Sweetheats on the green
Flung pistols in high tide
Move like my friend history here told me (?)
Clear-skied when the clear eye opened
My new moon to the new land
Won't you come with me

What's the weight of the world worth to ya, kid
Go write down what you see
And see how far it can go
What's the weight of the world worth to your side
Here is where you got lost
And here is how you got by

And here's the mutiny I promised you
And here's the party it turned into
And here's the mutiny I promised you
And here's the moment it turned into

Balancing on
One wounded wing
Circling the edge
Of the neverending
The best of the vanished marvels have gathered inside your door

More than begin
But less than forget
But spirits born
From the not happened yet
Gathering there
To pay off a debt brought back from the wars

We thought we lost you
We thought we lost you
We thought we lost you
Welcome back

Sleeping for years
Pick through what is left
Through the pieces that fell and rose from the depth
From the rainwater well
Deep as a secret nobody knows

Less than forget
But more than begun
These adventures in solitude never done
To the names of our wounds
We send the same blood back from the wars

We thought we lost you
We thought we lost you
We thought we lost you
It will all come back

I know you want to
Work for
Wait for
Want more
And that it's comin' at a bad time
Some cold place
Heartless ways
For all we know

I know you need to
Breathe through
Come back
Come to
But it's comin' at a bad time
Some lost heart
Tangled day
For all we know

I know you want to
Work for
Wait for
Want more
And that's comin' at a bad time
Some cold race
Heartless ways
For all we know

I know you want to
Breathe through
Come back
Come too
But it's comin' at a bad time
Old scarred face
Survivor's guilt
For all we know

You went looking for shelter
In all the wrong spaces
You grew gluttonous and famous with faces
Nameless and blank
Superstitiously you name them
St. Christopher and Johanna
St. Christopher and Johanna
St. Christopher and Johanna

Overcome with the holiday spirit
Mark says the herald angels won't hear it
And remember the wolves that you run with are wolves
Don't forget

They exist to give you something to regret, I'll beat them to it
With something sadder than that brass portrait that shines through your morning din
With something sadder than that brass portrait that shines through your morning din

I'll give you something to be sad about
Hey the picture really captures your mouth
Poised to say:
It's your turn to go down now, it's your turn to go down now
It's your turn to go down now, it's your turn to go down now
In the spirit of giving in

Cloud prayer Mary come on (repeated)

All I wanted was an answer to the secret
Ground floor Mary come on
Outboard Mary come on
All I wanted was an answer to
Your money or your life? Your money or your life?
I was sick of America and her screaming decay
I was in a band we were singing 'hooray' quite often
But your momma was poor your daddy was poor
Whatcha gonna do?
Your mother was poor your father was poor
Whatcha gonna do
About it?

Cloud prayer Mary come on (repeated)

Words down this crystal lane
Spread like long shadows through
One law friend to the rich
The next one no-one knew
Hung for a sheep or lamb
Our hero knocks but once
One knock worth two pressed men
Our doors burst open then

Silent systems breakin' down
Over the windows in my soul
We'll now betray this design
This old house and broken home
Silent systems breakin' down
Silent systems breakin' down

Mind your days in the sun
Secret until you're told
Silent in your consent
Gold in your chest this went
On horseback and hellbound
Son 'til he takes a wife
Our friend spun silver voice
Reflects upon his choice

Lost in the telling found
Inside the lion's den
Our hero in his church
Reflects upon his end
Kneel down upon this flame
But do not speak a file
New logs but no new laws
Lost in this ancient cause

Silent systems breakin' down
Arrow pare right on my soul
Share this certain favorite sign
Every step is right from home
Silent systems breakin' down
Silent systems breakin' down
Silent systems breakin' down
Silent systems breakin' down

there's a straight line between suburbia and graveyards
and as we wander zigzag short (???) is on our side
then she reads them to me as we lunch on sunday
picnic baskets on the grave of the (???)

bingo games and bloodlines/black lines(?)
apocalyptic, walking
apologies accepted, spurred by sure design(?)
something fled on henry(?)
blazing blue down cobb(?) street
we surround it, singing
(???)

i was the lucky one too
i was the lucky one all the same
i was saved
in the summer of my (???) flame/fame(?)
i rock(?) myself in its arms, forgiven
in the face of fortune

and with the lucky one, too
and with a broken heart, broke apart
into pieces that were sold as art
i had to rock myself into famous places
to replace my fortune
to replace my fortune
to replace my fortune

a dance, we turn on rest here
left like breadcrumbs for you
dropped from these skyscrapers
pieces from (???)

apocryphal and shining
come the new crop circles
our avenging angels
singing in a secret cove(?)

i was the lucky one too
i was the lucky one all the same
in the summer of my (???) flame(?)
i had to rock myself in its arms, forgiven
in the face of fortune

and with the lucky one, too
and with a broken heart, broke apart
into pieces that were sold as art
i had to rock myself into famous places
to replace my fortune
i had to rock myself into famous places
to replace my fortune
i had to rock myself into famous places
to replace my fortune
i had to rock myself into famous places
to replace my fortune