On my back there’s a sign called September
with the wind in my face and a drink in my hand
but you wouldn’t understand
I have tried everything I can think of
but you’ll never seen things the way that I do
But its not about you
Wouldn’t you know it takes a special kind of talent to slam shut every open door
Just when it looks like I can reach out there and grab it
I’m picking a fight over nothing
and I’m making her cry over nothing
and I’m taking my time all for nothing, nothing at all
Always guessed that by now it’d be over
Never stressed the details and never kept score
never wanted more
Drip by drip every moment was scattered
just a slip of the tongue and a brush of the hand
and an awkward dance
Wouldn’t you know it takes a special kind of talent to slam shut every open door
Just when it looks like I can reach out there and grab it
I’m picking a fight over nothing
and I’m making her cry over nothing
and I’m taking my time all for nothing, nothing at all
All I want is to savor the moment
while there’s moments to savor
Wouldn’t you know it takes a special kind of talent to slam shut every open door
Just when it looks like I can reach out there and grab it
I’m picking a fight over nothing
and I’m making her cry over nothing
and I’m taking my time all for nothing, nothing at all
That was your last chance, I told you
It’s only taken me all year
You always think I’m trying to scold you
but this is sincere
now get the hell out of here
I stack the cards and you swat them away
intentions as crooked as the lines on your face
so go and tell yourself a story
gather what you need to carry it through
if it ain’t what you planned
then baby, that’s on you
It’s always a stick up or a shakedown
if tears are your weapons, bring the rain
I didn’t ask you your opinion
but I’ll play your games
you said you wanted some pain
I stack the cards and you swat them away
intentions as crooked as the lines on your face
so go and tell yourself a story
gather what you need to carry it through
if it ain’t what you planned
then baby, that’s on you
I stack the cards and you swat them away
intentions as crooked as the lines on your face
so go and tell yourself a story
gather what you need to carry it through
if it ain’t what you planned
then baby, that’s on you
Was it enough or did it go too far
I know the good parts all by heart
Fatal Attraction never earned its name
Don’t act so surprised it wasn’t just a game
I’m not the same
and you’re to blame
you’re to blame
I wasn’t trying to interrupt the show
but you never know how these things go
you were the brightest thing I ever saw
now all I got left is this unsettled score
a distant shore
and you’re the door
you’re the door
Reach all the way back ‘till the check gets cashed
add a little bit of truth to cut the stash
every story needs a little sturm and drang
get tired of the dream then split the scene
keep your memories vague to buff the sheen and go
just go
just go
Was it the fantasy that turned you off
Did you know it was over when the actor coughed
scatter the pieces far as you can throw
keep tryin’ to believe it wasn’t just a show
a way back home
but you’re alone
all alone
Reach all the way back ‘till the check gets cashed
add a little bit of truth to cut the stash
every story needs a little sturm and drang
det tired of the dream then split the scene
keep your memories vague to buff the sheen and go
just go
just go
We’re not on television
drop your smug pretension
this is just you and me alone
enough with all the preening
and all the self deceiving
take your makeup off and put down your phone
You bathe yourself in sanctimony
hurling your invective every night when you’re in front of the lights
could it be your soul is hurting
as you’re sitting up there smirking
your producers trying to gin up a fight
once you go live you’re never gonna find
a way for you to come back home
and all the tricks and trappings
and the gifts that you’re unwrapping
are never gonna make you whole
Look, I get it’s just a small town thing
and I should stop trying to understand the reason or rhyme
We both gain nothing after wading in
talking past each other in the circus tent of prime time
You gather up your boogie men
load ‘em on the cards and then you’re really gonna give them a scare
with all the protestations and your public demonstrations
and your finger poking holes in the air
They hang on every word
you’re giving them what they deserve
Cassandra on the flickering screen
have you lost all your perspective
is there nothing that’s objective
is this your idea of living the dream
once you go live you’re never gonna find
a way for you to come back home
and all that you’ve discovered in the weakness of another
is never gonna soothe your soul
Look, I get it’s just a small town thing
and I should stop trying to understand the reason or rhyme.
We both gain nothing after wading in
talking past each other in the circus tent of prime time
once you go live you’re never gonna find
a way for you to come back home
And all the good intentions
which you probably shouldn’t mention
are never gonna save your soul
Look, I get it’s just a small town thing
and I should stop trying to understand the reason or rhyme.
We both gain nothing after wading in
talking past each other in the circus tent of prime time
about
Songs from Jeff Litman's 2015 EP, performed live and acoustic with Mandolinist, Joe Brent in Minneapolis.
credits
released September 17, 2015
Jeff Litman - Guitar/Vocals
Joe Brent - Mandolin
Recorded by Tom Garneau, Mixed and Mastered by Andy Thompson