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Everything has Changed

by Hemlock Smith

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1.
Everything has Changed 03:52
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Everything has Changed I guess the fog will soon be lifting, finally And clear the streets, our common maze But my soul, it keeps on drifting Out through the windshield, into the day And as I turn, there, at the streetlight I notice everything has changed Everything has changed I guess that poetry’s uplifting, actually It frees our hearts, our common gaze But my soul, it keeps on shifting Forever different, in a haze And as I turn, there, at the crossroads I notice everything has changed - Oh when she closed the door I felt sad in a way I’d never been before Sad in a way like never before ‘Cos everything had changed. I guess the town will soon be roaring, endlessly And shroud my silence, like a grave My body’s cold, and still, it’s soaring Has it been our last embrace ? And as I turn, there, at the corner I notice everything has changed Everything has changed Everything has changed
2.
Not Amused 02:29
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Not Amused Did I outstay my welcome Did I linger for too long Did I instill some boredom Too many verses for a song ? Yet I don’t know what to do ‘Cause I still long for you… Was I pushy and obsessive And you were not amused Was I fishing for incentives - My long eluding muse ? Yet I don’t know what to do ‘Cause I still long for you - Long for you… Did I outstay my welcome Did I linger for too long Never grasped our elders’ wisdom To leave you the hell alone ? Yet I don’t know what to do I’m still bound to long for you… You left me frantic, torn and used You were no fun – a burning fuse And I am not Amused. (maybe I’m just confused…)
3.
Death ain't got no Mercy 03:29
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Death ain’t got no Mercy Death ain’t got no Mercy in this land Death ain’t got the Heart to understand And I don’t know what the Truth is but it sure lies close at hand Death ain’t got no Mercy in this land Surely our Trials will be in vain Surely our Trials will cause us pain We’ll carry the Load and for certain we’ll carry the blame, yeah Surely our Trials will be in vain Life has only Misery to bestow Life has only Heartache in its tow And I’ll shoulder my Burden till my Lord says it’s time to go, go, go Life has only Misery to bestow Death ain’t got no Mercy in this land Death ain’t got the Heart to understand And I sure know the outcome when it comes to leave its Brand, yeah, yeah Death ain’t got no Mercy, Mercy, Mercy in this land Death ain’t got no Mercy in this land Death ain’t got no Mercy in this land Death ain’t got no Mercy in this land Death ain’t got no Mercy in this land (Mercy, Mercy…)
4.
The Leper Dogs of May 03:22
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The Leper Dogs of May The Leper Dogs of May Came crawling to my doorstep Most certainly astray The Leper Dogs of May Came sleeping on my sofa And peeing in my loafers Forever they will stay. They said we’re bringing joy Joy To every girl and boy Girl and boy The Leprechauns of June Came waltzing through the chimney Chanting all the runes The Leprechauns of June They licked my sugar bowl Took my remote control They won’t be leaving soon. They said we’re bringing joy Joy ? To every girl and boy Girl and boy And I apprehend the fall When all things will be dying And colors fade to grey Yes, I apprehend the fall On this cliff I may be leaning Without hope ; without meaning Let the storm take me away ; the Storm… Because you’re gone… Because you’re gone… Because you’re gone… The Leper Dogs of May Are sleeping on my doorstep Forever licking foam Should they be amused to stay Start drinking all my wine Let them be so inclined They’re the guardians of my bones.
5.
Let it Rain 04:16
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Let it Rain Roaming dogs always run backwards Searching for knowledge, or for time they owned Travelling fools always turn awkward Seeds always die on a highway road Let it Rain Let it Rain Hopeless eyes always turn inward When there’s nothing at all but our own jokes to quote Sailing on, through my own backyard Mare Silentium – and mine’s the only boat Let it Rain Let it Rain Let it Rain down on me oh my, oh my Lord Let it Rain Let it Rain Let it Rain down on me, oh why … ? Silent skies never turn crowded Seems I’ve been waiting on the wrong side of dawn I try not to cry but I can’t fight it See all those rockets crash on my starless lawn Let it Rain Let it Rain Let it Rain Let it Rain Let it Rain down on me oh my, oh my Lord Let it Rain Rain down on me Let it Rain Let it Rain Rain Rain Rain Rain Rain Rain Down on me… Let it Rain
6.
The Story of Cpt. Death 06:06
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The Story of Cpt. Death Gather ‘round, little children, gather ‘round… Today, I’m going to tell you the true story of the scariest man I’ve ever had the misfortune to meet; his name was Cpt. Death. Cpt. Death was a pirate, you see, a cruel and vicious fella, by any modern standards. He cruised around on his mighty battleship, and he pillaged and he plundered, and he killed and he maimed, and he raped the girls and he cut the young men’s throats and he threw the babies overboard, and all of this with a superior grin on his very, very ugly face. But, children, the scariest thing about him really was his laugh. It came out of his foul and rotten mouth like the howl of the werewolf on Halloween or the growl of a very pissed off grizzly bear on any given Monday morning… Oh! How you could hear him roar when he struck his sword onto a poor man’s neck…does anyone want to play football with the rolling head? Just for fun or, as he liked to put it, because it happened to be his job. Well, he did all of this for a certain time but in the end, the Devil noticed that there was something going on. He checked his notebook and decided it was time to take Cpt. Death to other shores. He put on his most distinguished black hood and, one very cold and windy polar night, he appeared in the Captain’s cabin and informed him in no uncertain terms that it was time to go. Cpt. Death listened closely, while looking quite bored by his strange visitor. Finally, he gave a manly push to his dining table and all the plates, glasses, knives and forks went waltzing through the room like dukes and baronets on a spring day in Vienna. He then bolted out of his chair like a maniac, with his gigantic sword pointed directly towards his opponent, and shouted: “I am Cpt. Death and I’m not going anywhere! I’ve got a job to do and I will not rest until it is completed! Now, get out, you miserable, hooded prick!” The Devil smiled and answered politely: “Indeed, I must admit that your job approval ratings are very high and, by all means, it is certain that you are very good at what you do. In that case, I shall go and leave you to it. But first, let me give you a present.” “That’s more like it”, said the captain and slowly put his sword away. When he looked up, he noticed a big, shiny black box standing in the corner of his cabin. This, certainly, hadn’t been there before… “What is it?”, he asked. “I offered you a TV”, the Devil said. “It is a very recent model and you will be quite pleased with it. It will serve you well and will only have one single power over you. My esteemed friend, it will make you stay home.” Having said this, the Devil bowed and quietly disappeared into thin air. And so it came that, from this day on, Cpt. Death stayed home. He stayed home and watched TV 24 hours a day, soap operas and reality shows, weird stuff about superstars and wannabe’s, not forgetting weird animals and even weirder sports. He liked all of it and almost couldn’t bear to leave his set for a while, even to take a piss or get a beer. Once a week, he would be forced out of his den, to buy groceries and the TV program. There he would stumble through the streets like a bearded ghost, oblivious to the cool sea breeze or the warmth of the southern winds. Every once in a while, he would vaguely remember that there had been something he had been doing before, before TV. But he would shrug it off nervously and quickly return to his gloomy and darkened place. You see, children, he didn’t want to miss anything… Well, it seems that Hell really can take any shape or form and, listen closely now, if there is a moral to this story, it must be that the Devil always, always succeeds in offering us things we don’t really want. Oh, isn’t he the clever one…
7.
Je n'ai Paris 03:23
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Je n’ai Paris Je n’ai Paris Je n’ai Bordeaux Et New Delhi Autant qu’ Tokyo Je n’ai Paris Pas Chicago Et il fait trop gris A Toronto Je n’ai pas ri, car tu n’es pas restée Je n’ai pas ri, car j’ai pleuré Je n’ai Paris, car je n’ai plus rien Que mon dépit, et l’amour de mon chien Je n’ai pas ri, Paris m’a avalé Tout nu – Tout cru Et m’a recraché Je n’ai Bordeaux J’suis en morceaux Tu n’es pas ici, donc Je n’ai Paris. Je n’ai Paris Je n’ai Bordeaux Et pas Berlin Ni Bilbao Je n’ai pas plus Paris Que Bamako Et il fait trop nuit Du côté d’Oslo Je n’ai pas ri, car tu n’es pas restée Je n’ai pas ri, car j’ai pleuré Ce n’est pas gai, Paris, même pas en canoë N’en ai cure du Louvre, j’n’en ai pas la clé Je hais Paris, Paris m’a avalé Tout nu – Tout cru Et m’a recraché Je n’ai Poitiers Je suis cassé Tu n’es pas ici, donc Je n’ai Paris.
8.
Heathrow 03:28
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Heathrow Well I used to be some Heathcliff Now I’m here in Heathrow, waiting for a plane Well I used to say I’m sorry ; never meant it, don’t you worry May have caused some pain Oh well ; alone again— CHa - Oh the photographs we keep are just a lie And Solitude, our king, we must abide We must abide. Well I used to be a hot shot Now I’m Delta Tango Foxtrot Running from myself Don’t bother, this is useless ; but it’s all those fake excuses We make up for ourselves That fuel this empty shell— CHb - And the photographs we keep are just a lie We won’t hold on to a thing until the day we die The day we die Bridge : Through tainted glass, even the sun is blue And I don’t know, I don’t know What to do… Well I used to be some Heathcliff Now I’m here in Heathrow, got delayed again I used to be so restless ; now I’m lost and rather clueless Kinda self-detained Guess I’m alone again CHc - Oh the photographs we keep are just a lie And Solitude, our king, we must abide Oh the loneliness inside may well survive Another crash, another bombing, another flight Another life. Another life Another lie Another lie.
9.
Caterpillar 02:48
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Caterpillar Oh Caterpillar Got lost today Over the hills and Far away Oh Caterpillar Oh Caterpillar Oh Caterpillar Got lost today The snow returned, unexpectedly Oh Traitor, May Oh Caterpillar Oh Caterpillar Oh Caterpillar Died today And old Father Miller Took it home to be displayed Oh Caterpillar Isn’t it cold, so cold This endless wait ? No sweet cocoon’s release No warm summer breeze Oh caterpillar, friend oh friend my friend It seems that spring It seems that spring Oh spring Was yesterday Was yesterday Was yesterday
10.
Train Song 03:11
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Train Song I guess the train’s a-coming I guess the train’s a-coming I see the smoke there in the sky but I hear no sound Although I press my ear right down, down to the ground I feel the train a-coming I feel the train a-coming Will my lover be on time, will she be there ? Or is it over and my days bound to despair ? Oh – I’m waiting for the 9 :55… Oh – I’m waiting for the 9 :55… I hear the train a-coming I hear the train a-coming The shuffle of its beat works like a charm I know she races towards me, into my arms I see the train a-coming I see the engine running But all windows of the wagon remain closed I guess it must not be the right train, I suppose… Oh – I’m waiting for the 9 :55… Oh – I’m waiting for the 9 :55… As I wait another day, the cold wind blows As I wait another day, the cold wind blows
11.
The Noisemaker 06:11
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The Noisemaker (Le Bourget, May 21st, 1927) We’ve got no flowers for you, Mr. Lindbergh There’ll be no bouquet for you in Paris We have a deep respect for the ocean We won’t cross it, to any degree Please leave Please go We’ll have none of that in the old world The noise you make fills us with glee You’re not welcome here at « Le Bourget » We’ll keep our own « Saint Louis » Please leave Please go You’re so full of it ! Pizzazz and theories You want to break the wall of sound But consider ; even Galileo Couldn’t make the world go ‘round Please go Please leave
12.
Invisible Man 03:18
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Invisible Man I wish I were no absent friend Playing second bill I wish I were no empty shell Dying to be filled - Dying to be filled - I suffer being smaller print Craving to be bold I wish I were no mummy (dear) Trying to unfold Young, but somehow old - CH Don’t you leave without a trace Don’t you vanish like a tan Don’t you smile without a face Don’t you disappear – just because you can Invisible man … Invisible man … I wish I were a better man And handed better deals I wish I were no open wound Desperate to heal - Desperate to heal - I wish I were no lonely moon With a cold and distant beam I wish I had a remedy For everything – it seems… I wish I had a dream - CH Don’t you leave without a trace In a slow-departing van Don’t you smile without a face Don’t you disappear – just because you can Invisible man … Invisible man … My invisible man …

about

Dear Listener,

These songs were mostly recorded at home, over a period of 4 days, almost as live as it gets. If you were nasty, you could argue that they’re sketches and if you were really mean, you could say that they are demos… It wouldn’t be totally accurate though, because the songs were carefully thought out; it’s just that they were not really rehearsed and if they lack sonic perfection and any kind of super-professional production, they seem to contain a good deal of spontaneity, emotion and genuine weirdness.
A lot of my favourite albums are actually far from perfect; they were recorded under difficult conditions but you can feel the urgency, the stress and the exhilaration. For instance, what makes Robert Johnson’s songs so great is the fact that they were recorded only once, EVER! And it was in someone’s living room, with one microphone.
So, my hope would be that these sentiments transpire somewhat in the music presented here, at least because my living room was used as well!

What happened was this; in early 2011, in my 45th year, an idea suddenly popped up in a brain cell of mine (one of the rare surviving ones, I should add). I had often wondered about making a different album than the previous one (the Hillsboro one, my most elaborate yet), a quiet one, something low-budget and modest, recorded in my basement, with friends and noises from the life going on above.
Would I be able to play the piano myself just once, even with my limited skills? Because, you know, there was this muted sound I heard in my head that no-one ever seemed to be able to grasp when I talked about it! And then, there was the thing with the string quartet; would I be able to carry some tunes only supported by violin and cello?
I sure don’t know but you’ll certainly have the answer!

The title of the record itself is quietly ironical. The world has changed very much in 2011 and a lot of things around me have too. But way inside, I’m still the same person, trying to learn from my mistakes, or at least avoid making the same one twice. The songs are different but, for those who know me, they’ll recognize elements that have been there before…
So, this record is “hybrid” in more than one way; two different sets of songs (one with a trio, the other with the string quartet), a sonically humble proposition with a larger view, an record that looks back to the sounds that impressed me as a kid but also stares wide-eyed into the future. It’s a record about some serious subjects but, it seems to me at least, it contains a fair bit of humour, and some parts are actually quite funny!
Here it is then; you could say it summarizes every sonic experiment I’ve tried out in the past years, with a few new ones for good measure.

credits

released September 5, 2012

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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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