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Small Change World

by Hemlock Smith

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1.
Elusive 03:19
Elusive I guess it’s my way and the highway As the joker used to quip The bonds of my attachment Scramble loose just when I quit So I guess this means departure Is really where I stand It means cowardice will capture - Each and every one at hand. Well I don’t want to be here I’m elusive to the core Oh, I don’t want to be here When the ghosts Come knocking on my door And my final destination Is where it all began The road to plain damnation - In a battered old Sedan, I can always feel this shadow In the place right where I stood Lone bullet or the arrow Just might hit me – and I think it should. No I don’t want to be here Somewhere else forevermore Oh, I don’t want to be here When the ghosts When the ghosts Come knocking on my door Well I don’t want to be here I’m elusive to the core Oh, I don’t want to be here When the ghosts of this old sinner Come knocking down my door.
2.
The Jive 03:09
The Jive The sun is rising in the east, volcano in my skull What it sheds some light upon is plain and pretty dull But I’m doing the Jive I’m glad to be alive I battle hard for some ideas but I don’t have a plan Even struggle to remember my short attention span But I’m doing the Jive I’m so glad to be alive (I’m doing the Jive) - Ooh, ooh, I’m doing the Jive (I’m doing the Jive) - Ooh, ooh, I’m doing the Jive (Let’s do the Jive…) - Ooh, ooh, ooh, I’m doing the Jive I’m shooting blanks, right from the hip; the sun is heading west Let’s party now and call it quits; the things that I do best Let’s do the Jive We’re just glad to be alive We’ll settle all our politics around brandy and a beer If Brandy is somebody’s name we’ll give an extra cheer We’re doing the Jive We’re so glad to be alive * So let’s move around in circles and dislocate our brains If the ending’s close to the way it goes, we’ll never dance again Let’s do the Jive And be glad to be alive… (I’m doing the Jive) - Ooh, ooh, I’m doing the Jive (Let’s do the Jive) - Ooh, ooh, I’m doing the Jive (Let’s do the Jive…) - Ooh, ooh, ooh, I’m doing the Jive (one more time…) (I’m doing the Jive) - Ooh, ooh, I’m doing the Jive (Let’s do the Jive) - Ooh, ooh, I’m doing the Jive (Let’s do the Jive…) - Ooh, ooh, ooh, I’m doing the Jive
3.
The Spirit of Nebraska I never listened to Nebraska ‘Cause I dug Spirit a lot Amidst our everyday assassins It was everything I got The angst of being teenaged The weight of being alone With every fibre being rampaged I was angry to the bone. Gee, all the records I have stored To feel something Gee, every song burned to the core Let the light in Found the Spirit Found the Spirit Of my Nebraskan state And then I listened to Nebraska But I dug Spirit a lot Hunched down on my 4-track It was everything I got The hope of being different Knowing I was the same Those clumsy chords I put down They kept me in the game Gee, all the records I have stored To feel something Gee, every song burned to the core Let the light in Found the Spirit Found the Spirit Of my Nebraskan state I still listen to Nebraska And I dig Spirit a lot The times they are uncertain It’s still everything I’ve got Against the paramount of sadness Against the overwhelming pain I still try to find my Eden My Nebraska in the rain Gee, all the records I have stored To feel something Gee, every song burned to the core Let the light in Found the Spirit Found the Spirit Of my Nebraskan state Of my Nebraskan state
4.
I can only see the darkness I can only see the darkness And I can never be quite sure If the light there at this tunnel Is the illness or the cure I can only see the darkness I’m way too old to just ignore, that The days aren’t getting any longer, baby And we’re freezing at the core. * I can only see the darkness And I can never be quite sure If all the sorrow round this table Makes us cold or just demure I can only see the darkness And I can feel it in my pores, that We ain’t growing any stronger, baby And we’re sorry till we’re sore. * I can only see the darkness But summer says we’re still alive So we try to make the best of it Before we fly back to the hive.
5.
God (Helps Noone) Kay, she wants a baby But Jez wants none at all Kay is tired of maybes But Jez is like a wall. All fathers and daughters and mothers and sons But God God, he helps no one. Kay is just a dreamer But Jez has seen too much Kay wants no more armours But Jez is out of touch. All fathers and daughters and mothers and sons But God God, he helps no one. Kay, she wants to get married Jez, he smokes in the car But… Oh!... - If there’s only one to carry Sure, you won’t get too far. * Kay, she left a letter And holes instead of junk She wrote: “it’s for the better” He thinks of getting drunk. All fathers and daughters and mothers and sons, carry on All fathers and daughters and mothers and sons, All fathers and daughters and mothers and sons, All fathers and daughters and mothers and sons, But God Just won’t help no one.
6.
Bo (Tell me what’cha know) We used to dream ‘bout a house in flames And a big bad wolf with a foreign name We used to fear all the creaking sounds And the ghost of Cain whom we never found Oh Bo Oh Bo, Tell me what’cha know!... We used to bite our nails and toes (Oh! That hurt!) When the fog lifted or when it rose We used to wait for the voodoo child To haunt us till the morning light Oh Bo Oh Bo, Tell me what’cha know!... Anxieties are clingers They won’t die by any sword They hover and they linger On the same old tired chord The scares we slowly gather They moan but never bend The “maybes” and the “rathers” Mean “Diddley” in the end! (Yeah! Yeah!) We used to think that the mummy’s lair Was in the backyard but it wasn’t there (Where? Where?) We used to smile ‘bout childhood fears But they’re lurking in our atmosphere Oh Bo Oh Bo, Tell me what’cha know!... Anxieties are clingers They won’t die by any sword They hover and they linger On the same old tired chord The scares we slowly gather They moan but never bend The “maybes” and the “rathers” Mean “Diddley” in the end! (Yeah! Yeah!) Bo Diddley ‘s gonna sing a song And Boo Radley‘s gonna sing along… Bo Diddley Diddley Ding Radley Radley Run!!
7.
Gladiator 03:29
Gladiator You’re a fighter – you’re a gladiator No one is ever gonna bring you down You’ve felt the violence, you know the perpetrators When they tell you - you shouldn’t make a sound. You’re a fighter – you’re a gladiator In this arena of domestic household bliss You know which side they’re on - friendly aggravators Oh they won’t kill you, they’ll throw you a kiss. You’re a fighter – you’re a gladiator And in your sorrow still you do protect the small You know the warning signs, the stares, oh mighty educators You do avoid them, they say you couldn’t have it all. You couldn’t have it all… You’re a fighter – you’re a gladiator The urban jungle just made sure you are a slut You know the path they’re on, self-appointed vindicators The sudden, devious plots – To touch your butt - Fuck you in the parking lot. I don’t know how you do it. Fuck you in the parking lot. (I don’t know how you do it…) (I don’t know how you do it…) You’re a fighter – you’re a gladiator No one is ever gonna bring you down The world seems brighter when you don’t play the moderator You just made sure of that; you were lost and now you’re found You’re a fighter – you’re a gladiator No one is ever gonna bring you down Your own world to fight in – kill the king – incinerator You just make sure of that; dog becomes the hound.
8.
Drizzle She slid across the marbled aisles Like a creature from a film Expressionless, but running wild Like the ghost from Canterville She hovered through the open door Eventually reached my chair Then flew across my every pore As if I weren’t there And the drizzle - Hit the windows Like knives And the drizzle Drenched the curtains – Curtains Like November Like November. * She kissed me from the inside out And licked my trembling gut She stole my breath and sucked, devout My illusions left to rot You’ll find me in the corridors Or cowering in the crypt My burning soul forever sore Of promise ; nondescript And the drizzle - Hit my temples Like bricks And the drizzle Hits the marble – Marble Like regret.
9.
Calcutta (In a Nutshell) I’ve never once been to Calcutta Waited months for the monsoon I’ve never once been to Samoa Where mosquitoes cloud the moon I’ve never even seen Niagara Fell from heaven, into the well In a Nutshell. It serves me well … And I don’t know how you do it ‘Cos I won’t even try Oh I don’t know how you do it ‘Cos I won’t even try I’ve never once been to Calcutta Holy Cow ! Amazing Grace ! I’ve never once been to Samoa Me and the Jungle, face to face I’ve never even seen Niagara Crossed the rapids, rang the bell In a Nutshell It serves me well … And I don’t know how you do it ‘Cos I won’t even try Oh I don’t know how you do it ‘Cos I won’t even try My trip around the world Is being here with you But if you travel the world I’ll be right here with you… Right here Right here… With you….
10.
Wasteland 04:52
Wasteland Beware the minefield Beware the wasteland If you don’t see it now, I don’t think you can Beware the end zones Beware the graveyards If you don’t know by now, you won’t understand Been squaring out these circles Terraforming plains Been so in touch with hurting We can’t feel the – feel the pain Beware the sorrow Beware the changes If you don’t get it now you’ll never guess Been dodging all these hurdles Making love in vain Yet underneath the surface We can feel the – feel the pain
11.
The Fleeting You I stood and watched you from the crowd How could it be that you’re so beautiful? How could it be That you’re so beautiful? Some folks were screaming awfully loud But I was perfectly enthralled by you I didn’t hear I didn’t hear a single sound. * I saw you stand out from the crowd Is it a spell you cast, like lovers do? A favor asked – Is it a rope you threw? When even prouder heads are bowed In daily lives and somewhat narrow views I stood and stared I stood and dared – just to look at you * Now, I’ll return back to the crowd The fleeting you I saw was wonderful The fleeting you Almost meeting you, there – in the crowd.
12.
Mr. Tambourine We were fifteen and the band was going to be famous Worshipped and loved, modern gods of rock and roll There was the singer, so cocky, drop dead gorgeous And the guitarist, he wrote the tunes and looked so cool And in the pictures, in the corner, while rehearsing There was this guy playing the tambourine Mr. Tambourine - Mr. Tambourine Mr. Tambourine - Mr. Tambourine Then we took jobs, and careers just kind of happened Life deals the cards, but never on a whim We faced the music and shit surely sounds amazing There, from the sidelines, still dying to fit in Right in the corner, lacking general rhythm You’ll find this guy playing the tambourine (Hey, Mister !) I guess it’s time to pull myself together And tell this story, the way it’s supposed to be told We were fifteen - and the sky just had no limits We were in disband, and then I fell into a hole Well, few of us are truly bound for greatness Fate kept me waiting till I grew tired just to think On the verge of something, but mostly of disaster Here’s your by-stander ; spectator ; end of scene There in the pictures, in the corner, kinda broken I’ll be this guy playing the tambourine Mr. Tambourine - Mr. Tambourine Mr. Tambourine - Mr. Tambourine Mr. Tambourine - Mr. Tambourine Mr. Tambourine - Mr. Tambourine
13.
The Jive The sun is rising in the east, volcano in my skull What it sheds some light upon is plain and pretty dull But I’m doing the Jive I’m glad to be alive I battle hard for some ideas but I don’t have a plan Even struggle to remember my short attention span But I’m doing the Jive I’m so glad to be alive (I’m doing the Jive) - Ooh, ooh, I’m doing the Jive (I’m doing the Jive) - Ooh, ooh, I’m doing the Jive (Let’s do the Jive…) - Ooh, ooh, ooh, I’m doing the Jive I’m shooting blanks, right from the hip; the sun is heading west Let’s party now and call it quits; the things that I do best Let’s do the Jive We’re just glad to be alive We’ll settle all our politics around brandy and a beer If Brandy is somebody’s name we’ll give an extra cheer We’re doing the Jive We’re so glad to be alive * So let’s move around in circles and dislocate our brains If the ending’s close to the way it goes, we’ll never dance again Let’s do the Jive And be glad to be alive… (I’m doing the Jive) - Ooh, ooh, I’m doing the Jive (Let’s do the Jive) - Ooh, ooh, I’m doing the Jive (Let’s do the Jive…) - Ooh, ooh, ooh, I’m doing the Jive (one more time…) (I’m doing the Jive) - Ooh, ooh, I’m doing the Jive (Let’s do the Jive) - Ooh, ooh, I’m doing the Jive (Let’s do the Jive…) - Ooh, ooh, ooh, I’m doing the Jive
14.
I can only see the darkness I can only see the darkness And I can never be quite sure If the light there at this tunnel Is the illness or the cure I can only see the darkness I’m way too old to just ignore, that The days aren’t getting any longer, baby And we’re freezing at the core. * I can only see the darkness And I can never be quite sure If all the sorrow round this table Makes us cold or just demure I can only see the darkness And I can feel it in my pores, that We ain’t growing any stronger, baby And we’re sorry till we’re sore. * I can only see the darkness But summer says we’re still alive So we try to make the best of it Before we fly back to the hive.

about

This seventh record (in 20 years) by the Swiss Pop/Folk/Rock Band is a true return to their basics of writing and recording together in a room. It was done (mostly) live in a few days during Summer and Confinement. The urgency and freedom shown here make this a very enjoyable, dynamic and varied record.

credits

released September 19, 2023

Michael Frei Lead Vocals, Melodica
Emilie Roulet Piano, Electric Piano, Glockenspiel,
Choir Arrangement, Saxophone, Vocals
Mathieu Evéquoz Acoustic and Electric Guitars, Additional Bass,
Vocals
Fabrizio Di Donato Bass, Horn Arrangements, Vocals
Youri Rosset Drums, Percussion, Vibraphone
Tassilo Jüdt Saxophone
Michaël Conus Trumpet
Charles-Edouard Thuillier Trumpet
William Jacquemet Trombone
Victor Decamp Trombone
Chris Diggelmann Producer, Mixer, Engineer
Théo Missillier Additional Recording

Booking/Management
Séverine Gonzalez - cvrin prod
severine@cvrin.com | +41 79 293 59 15
www.cvrin.com

Band Photographs by Pierre-Edouard Monnier www.pemimages.ch
Cover Art Jean Marc Alder

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Hemlock Smith Lausanne, Switzerland

Hemlock Smith come from Lausanne (Switzerland). Since 2002, they’ve released 7 regular albums with intelligent pop, as well as 2 soundtracks for silent film and 2 collaborations with Noise duo Les Poissons Autistes. Fronted by singer-songwriter Michael Frei, Hemlock Smith's distinctive voice is complemented by a talented band seamlessly blending Pop, Folk, Rock and Trip-Hop Sensibilities ... more

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