Get all 98 Chris Anderson releases available on Bandcamp and save 70%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Goodbye Eden (fdm152), The Trials Of Henry (fdm154), Ghost Town (fdm153), Standing Sideways On The Sun (fdm151), The Catalyst (fdm150), Storm Free EP (fdm149), A Thousand Heels Abound EP (fdm148), Dented (fdm147), and 90 more.
1. |
Rope Swing
05:01
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ROPE SWING
listen to the wind as it weathers my face
listen to the outlaw as he picks up the pace
listen to the fire crackle out in the field
listen as it devastates the yield
listen to the window shatter, stones in the street
listen as the bones, they crumble underneath my feet
listen to the rain as it washes away
all the evidence of the day
reinvent the wheel
for something to say
reinvent the sea
to carry you away
reinvent your pride
reinvent a place to hide
or reinvent the lie
listen to the water streaming under your nose
listen to the words and redirect where they go
listen as the highway cries it's conflict in song
listen as it rattles along
listen to the music of the ages right here
listen as the chatter dominates your deaf ears
listen to the hurricane, it's blowing away
everything you wanted to say
reinvent the day
and all the parts of the play
reinvent your will
before you stumble down the hill
reinvent your pride
reinvent a place to hide
or reinvent the lie
until you're feelin' alright
listen to the birds as they announce the new day
listen to the tether as it snaps in the fray
listen for the siren at the start of the dive
to see if anyone is left alive
listen to the angel as she tears off her wings
listen for the buzzards and whatever they bring
listen to this line, coz i won't sing it again
just wait until we get to the end
reinvent the sun
and all you names for everyone
reinvent the walk
before the silent start to talk
reinvent the word
reinvent the shit they stirred
reinvent the rust
before it settles with the dust
reinvent your pride
reinvent a place to hide
or reinvent the lie
until you're feelin' alright...
6/27/09
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2. |
Break It On Down
05:02
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BREAK IT ON DOWN
you got your boots on
and you swing to the beat
just like a carousel
you keep your eyes closed
as you pull out the stops
plug up the wishing well
you gotta shoot from all sides
hit from offsides, double wide
you gotta do the fast dance
choose your last chance
a new romance
if it's cold, then you gotta get moving
if it's hot, then you know it's just right
you gotta break it on down
break it down til it's out of sight
you look like a window
or a fire on the fringes of a silken thread
you wonder where the light goes
when it's darker than the shadows
where you fear to tread
you gotta take it back now, take it downtown
and look around
you gotta get some new toys, find the joy
and make some noise
if it's quiet, then you gotta get grooving
if it's loud, then you know it's just right
you gotta break it on down
break it down til it's out of sight
you keep your head down
like a demon or a diety, you can never tell
a million answers or a curse
it's a pity it will never sell
marvelous now, a marbelized
or a wooden vow?
dampen all the lights, blow it up
and say goodnight
you gotta break it on down
break it down til it's out of sight
-6/18/09
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3. |
Opportunity
04:50
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OPPORTUNITY
karma comes and goes
sometimes it's wild and wicked ride
everybody knows
sometimes you've gotta leave it all behind
to wait for chance's call
or write it off as nothing new at all
opportunity comes
sometimes it's gone as fast as that
which holds us down
and keeps us in the runaround
rising up and falling down
until we beg to breathe
and hand over the reins
to someone we don't recognize
opportunity knocks
once, twice, and
slips into the shroud
that covers all the anger in the crowd
marvelous or moot?
the angel hides her fist inside her boot
she takes it out just when
she sees the big storm rage again
opportunity comes
sometimes it's gone as fast as that
which keeps us here
relying on our old fears
insecure and awkward years
until we break and scream
and wrestle back the reins
from someone who could never need 'em
opportunity knocks
three times
we sing out to the sun
and to the ones who lose control
just like you, him, and me
we sing out to the rain
and all the passion and the pain
we feel here everyday
it's not something we don't think about
it's not something we can't live without
it's not something beyond any doubt
it's not...
anything we need
apart from the sun and wind and trees
you could keep it close
or leave it with the feathers in the breeze
to drift and find anew
until the colors all collide in front of you
opportunity comes
sometimes it's gone as fast as that
which cuts us loose
and sends us to the blue
with all the wisdom and nothing to do
until it all makes sense
and we rise above the truth
opportunity - one last chance
we sing out to the sun
and to the ones who lose control
just like you, him, and me
we sing out to the rain
and all the passion and the pain
we feel here everyday
it's not something we don't think about
it's not something we can't live without
it's not something beyond any doubt
it's not the end, we're just beginning...
-6/20/09
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4. |
Rust
04:12
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RUST
won't you look into the sun
it's like a thousand petals in the sky
we stop, then move along
these secrets form and break apart the light
i know, i know, it's a sorry sight
i know, i know, we move from night to night
i know, i know, we curtained out the dust
the free form moves like fragments underneath the rust
carry all your thoughts away
we left them back in time
coz we don't know what they'll say
take a photo, sing a song about the mad rush
write a letter and we'll pass it all around
when you feel it glow, it's like nothing to be crushed
when your feet won't hit the ground
when your feet won't hit the ground
if you stop and sing about it
all the wonders of your soul will come alive
and dance in figures, forming out like
flocks of pigeons in the sky
i know, i know, it's not a simple climb
i know, that no, it's not a waste of time
i know, i know, we just might see it bust
the free form cracks into fragments underneath the rust
what doesn't bend will never break
if you can't see it now
then there's nothing more at stake
take a photo, sing a song about the mad rush
write a letter and we'll pass it all around
when you feel it glow, it's nothing to be crushed
when your feet won't hit the ground
when your feet won't hit the ground
take your arms and take your names
we got enough to keep us cool throughout the day
and if your head explodes
we'll write you off and say you ran away
i know, i know, there's nothing you can do
i know, i know, it's still in front of you
i know, i know, we all do what we must
the free form falls to ashes underneath the rust
and if we still embrace the day
we'll patch it up and get back
on our merry way
take a photo, sing a song about the mad rush
write a letter and we'll pass it all around
when you feel it glow, it's like nothing to be crushed
when your feet won't hit the ground
when your feet won't hit the ground
-7/19/09
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5. |
Cultivated
04:34
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CULTIVATED
you are so cultivated, yeah
you are the eyes of all the world
you left your footprints in the soil
you look like everything in sight
the way you sway from side to side
your brittle hands are never tied
you are the light
and so we see it there
beyond the movement of your hair
beyond the distance of your stare
you are the light
this life, this here and now
you show us what, we'll show you how
to break the silence with a vow
you keep me motivated, yeah
you bring it out in everyone
you never rest, you're never done
you move like shadows in the sun
or like a fire on the run
you never rest, you're never done
you are the light
and so it's oh so clear
beyond the movement of your tears
beyond the wisdom of your years
you are the light
this life, it's oh so grand
from the mountains to the sand
to the way you fold your hands
and you are still cultivating, yeah
you've got your hands out in the wind
you'll never break, you'll only bend
you bring new meaning to the day
you bring the joy to this array
you clear the air of all the gray
you are the light
oh yeah, you know it's true
you know there's nothing we can't do
and so, my dear, i must thank you
you are the light
this life, it's oh so dear
we'll never fail, we'll never fear
or throw the match and disappear
you are so cultivated, yeah
you are the eyes of all the world
you left your footprints in the soil
-5/22/09
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6. |
Pariah To An Icon
03:54
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PARIAH TO AN ICON
to beat those demons down
to take them all the way
to break from town to town
to wipe the blood away
it's a moment
just like any other one
we've seen
the landslide crumble
oceans wash asunder
all that's ever been
and we can take it off now
and set em all aside
and we can blow it up now
and watch the pigeons and their pride
to fade in candle glow
to reinvent the wheel
to watch them come and go
to watch them scrape and steal
it's a wonder
that we never thought
of doing it before
we spin in circles
and get dizzy at the
first sign of the door
and we can take it off now
and set em all aside
and we can blow it up now
and watch the pigeons and their pride
from a pariah to an icon
one fine day - you threw it all away
to wash in oceans deep
to feel these tendencies
beyond where shadows creep
to see what others see
it's a wonder
that you never thought
to fall apart before
or exorcize the ghosts
that keep you down
in chains out on the floor
it's a wonder
that it took so long
for you to find the door
and we can take it off now
and set em all aside
and we can blow it up now
and watch the pigeons and their pride
from a pariah to an icon
one fine day - you threw it all away
-6/26/09
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7. |
Already Outside
03:58
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8. |
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9. |
Ghostline
03:48
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GHOSTLINE
we're catching up
we got another mile to go
this stone's still rolling down the road, yeah
we picked it up
when we had time to fuck around
and then we laid it on the ground, yeah
it weighed a ton
but still it's light compared to this
now we collide and now we miss, yeah
we blew it up
to see the spark go round the world
we pulled the molehill
from the mountainside
we blew the fire out
to say goodnight, goodnight
another voice, another ghost
another idol for the world
it all goes back together now
we wake again
we're baking in the august wind
and it gets underneath our skin, yeah
just light it up
and pass it round from town to town
to everyone who's getting down now
we thought it wise
to try and see through others' eyes
we play the blues with no disguise now
we blew it up
to see the spark go round the world
we pulled the molehill
from the mountainside
we blew the fire out
to say goodnight, goodnight
another voice, another ghost
another idol for the world
it all goes back together now
we grind our teeth and we take it in again
we see the world spin an ellipse, yeah
this kind of pattern dominates
we hear the clatter of the gates
but they'll never let us in
we held it close
and disappeared between the bows
and all the ribbons on this ghostline
to steal the void
from all the ones who we annoyed
and all their fire and their toys, yeah
we rose again
and threw it down and smashed the crown
and all the diamonds in this dream town
we blew it up
to see the spark go round the world
we pulled the molehill
from the mountainside
we blew the fire out
to say goodnight, goodnight
another voice, another ghost
another idol for the world
it all goes back together now
-7/30/09
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10. |
Your Fragile Face
05:49
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YOUR FRAGILE FACE
and so she let it slip away
two thousand years have gone
since she last got down to pray
the spray of the ocean leaves a trace
that looks like tears across her fragile face
and so we gathered up our moss
where the stone had rolled
before it tore apart the cross
your loss is a reminder of the waste
that looks like tears across your fragile face
opened wide and flyin' high
side by side the flowers die
in the field where they lie
and so the passengers decreed
for a mighty strand to grow
we've gotta tell them what we need
to see is not to move from place to place
or trickle tears across your fragile face
and so the sun shall rise again
where once were windows
now are walls and closing in
begin and maybe you will join the race
or just erase the tears across your fragile face
opened wide and flyin' high
side by side the flowers die
in the field where they lie
and so we let it slip away
between the highways and
the route of the parade
we made it to the end but lost the race
to count the tears across your fragile face
and so what is will always be
the faces change but still
the memory holds the key
we see it's just another of their ways
they spray these tears across your fragile face
opened wide and flyin' high
side by side the flowers die
in the field where they lie
-7/8/09
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11. |
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THE STONES DON'T THROW THEMSELVES
waiting for time
to see if this life is blind
away like the tide
like the ones we are inside
around every turn
this city is beat and burning down
below the ground
where our secrets hang around
where the fire burns, it only burns outside
where the widow yearns, she keeps it all inside
when the truth comes, we keep in a shell
but the stones don't throw themselves
to break or to bend
we choke in the sand and wind
we're there, waiting there
for a new excuse to stare
at the fools on parade
we know all their names
we gave them up to the sun
to the wisdom and their guns
where the river flows, it only flows outside
where a sinner grows, he keeps it all inside
when the judgement comes, we keep on the shelf
but the stones don't throw themselves
this life - we all lie
and still there's that voice
that's begging for one last choice
resolve to the fool
who bends and buckles every rule
the scent of the burn
these egos, they twist and turn
and swerve beyond the curve
we all get what we deserve
where the fire burns, it only burns outside
where the widow yearns, she keeps it all inside
when the truth comes, we keep in a shell
but the stones don't throw themselves
where the river flows, it only flows outside
where a sinner grows, he keeps it all inside
when the judgement comes, we keep on the shelf
but the stones don't throw themselves
this life - we all lie....
-6/25/09
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12. |
A Distant Thunder
04:01
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A DISTANT THUNDER
you're standing there shaking like a refugee
in a corner of your tunnel and you still can't see
this light, oh this light
feeling like a feather in the weight of the storm
you don't got no answer but you feel the warmth
it's like, oh it's like
a distant thunder
clashing all this time
we see it turn around
at the edge of the light
a distant thunder
crashing all this time
we gotta take it in
singing to the birds and the cracks in the wall
like a madman poet, undiscovered
for all this time, all this time
staring at the mountain like a bull in the breeze
you can see the door but you lost the key
it's like, oh it's like
a distant thunder
clashing all this time
we see it turn around
at the edge of the light
a distant thunder
crashing all this time
we gotta take it in
you can bury your lament in the back of the bar
with your idols and their names but you won't get far
this time, not this time
shooting out the lights and the garbage cans
in the alley of your soul, behind your master plan
it's like, oh it's like
a distant thunder
crashing all around...
-7/19/09
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13. |
Mostly Cracked
03:49
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MOSTLY CRACKED
we are here
we got the future and their fears
out in the cooler with the beers
and all that's wonderful and weird
bring it down
where the idols make no sound
where the trivial's unfound
beyond the circus of this town
i can't bear to lose another round
set ablaze
she got the fire in her face
she burns the means but keeps the ways
she kinda likes to keep her pace
tearing down
we stomp our egos in the ground
break the circle but stick around
until the treasure is all found
and i can't bear to lose another round
holding back - the surface is all cracked
the wire's lost its slack and everything is turning black
rise again
we feel the fire on our skin
and all the marks upon our chin
we got the gold, we got the win
all around
such a joyous, righteous sound
from all the teachers to the clowns
shine a light and pass it down
coz i can't bear to lose another round
-7/8/09
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Chris Anderson Alexandria, Virginia
Chris is a wildly prolific songwriter who has hovered among the outskirts of the music world for over 30 years. On his own
label, Flying Dachshund Music, Chris has released 154 CDs, 96 of them being full-length albums. That's just the tip of the iceberg and there are no signs of stopping. Ever.
chrisanderson-earlyfdm.bandcamp.com/music
chrisanderson-bg.bandcamp.com
... more
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