Personnel:

Greg Goldman: vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, bass guitar, keyboards, percussion, drums on track 9, and household objects.

Andy Goodson: drums on tracks 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 11, 13, and 14.

Charlie Platt: drums on tracks 5, 10, and 12.

Justin Howell: drums on track 7.

All songs written by Greg Goldman.

Recorded 2001-2002, with additional recording in 2011.

Mixed and mastered at Cedar Studios, St. Louis, MO.

Artwork, design and cover photo by Brandi R. Parker.

All tracks but 6 and 9 originally released 2002 on Greg Goldman Volume I and Greg Goldman Volume II.

©℗2002/2012 Greg Goldman

In 2001 I began tracking for my third album. I was rather prolific at that time and had enough material for two full albums, so Greg Goldman Volume I and Greg Goldman Volume II were released as a set in 2002. My equipment was rather limited, and many of the tracks were recorded in suboptimal conditions. Especially disappointing was the sound quality of the drums, which were played brilliantly by Andy Goodson, Charlie Platt and Justin Howell, but recorded to two channels by necessity (rather than seven or more which is standard studio practice). I borrowed a keyboard for a hurried one-day marathon recording session because I did not have one of my own, nor money to rent one. Even the vocal mics were borrowed from a friend.

Ten years and two solo albums later, I work in much friendlier studio conditions (though still barbaric by most standards). I have much better sound editing and processing software, a decent MIDI controller, and drum replacement capabilities. With these advantages I dug out the old masters and set about completely reworking the mixes. I added and/or replaced keyboards and guitars, replaced drum hits (but kept the original tracks for cymbals and ambience), and in one case replaced a vocal track. I rebuilt the mixes from the ground up, spending time on every instrument until I was satisfied.

I also decided to separate the chaff from the wheat, as it were. I selected the twelve best and most beloved tracks for the re-release, in order to pare the sequence down to a single album. I also found, reworked and added two songs that were recorded in 2001 but not included in the original releases due to technical limitations. In my opinion these two previously unreleased songs fit beautifully with the rest of the material.

Cedar Studios has now been in existence for fourteen years, has been based in seven states, and has advanced light years from the 386 computer and Shure SM58 that once formed its basis. This remaster is evidence both of where Cedar Studios came from as well as where it is headed.

-GG

Fulfill the Prophet

Hang your keys on the door and be gone.

You know a lot? Well, I know more, and you’re wrong.

The more I see the more I know the more I think

you’re liable to fail, and I

got my own suspicions.

Don’t you think you’re coming on too strong?

Don’t you think your tone could use some work?

Don’t you want to take it all back,

every single thing that you’ve said?

Don’t you think you’re human,

‘cause you’re wrong.

You’re a sad, sad, pathetic excuse for a man.

You’re a martyr to yourself, no one else.

The more I see the more I know the more I think

you’re liable to fail, and I

got my own opinions.

What’d I tell you the day I took you on?

What’d you think, I’d let it all just go?

What was that you said when you were

putting yourself together again?

What’d you think, you’re human?

Because you’re wrong.

Parenthetic Pearl

She got her life, she takes her time.

She got her own world, and I got mine.

She got her share of wounded pride.

She been way far gone,

and she got the scars to prove it.

And I don’t feel anymore

of this low-down desperation

that I was feeling before

this karmic respiration.

Give me something to lean on,

and I’ll try not to kiss the floor.

I’m waiting, waiting for more.

Far beyond the world? I wonder.

Apologetic girl: below her

promises unfurl.

We’re far along with scarlet tongs.

My parenthetic pearl, live on.

I’m hypnotized, been polarized.

I’m hanging back one step,

but I can’t say why.

And I don’t feel anymore

of the low-down desperation

that I was feeling before

this perquisite elation.

With a reticent sheen on,

I turn as I close the door,

impatient, aching for more.

Far beyond the world? I wonder.

Apologetic girl: below her

promises unfurl.

We’re far along with scarlet tongs.

My parenthetic pearl, live on.

The Pride Piece

I’ve got no time to talk right now;

it’s early, and I’m late.

But I can say that I’m aching and cold.

It’s a new low: discomfited,

I prostitute my veins.

And on the way, I trip over my heart.

Don’t believe it! He’s only halfway gone.

Part of the reason he’s discontented is hope.

Oh, yeah.

You’re sitting down. The one you love

is just behind the wall.

She’s leaving soon, but still you don’t call.

And when she’s gone, you cross your arms,

try to see her face.

Is this the one? Are you the best judge?

It’s hard to see when both of your eyes are closed.

Pardon me, but are you still waiting for hope?

Well, open your face and look!

Adding up all your reasons,

I find the fault in reasoning.

Out of your total pieces,

I find you fall to pieces

only when I tamper with this one.

Don’t you think it’s time you made your home?

Of all the people who claim to have seen your soul,

you are the one who knows.

Pieces of Hurt

The stars were falling through clouds of rain.

The wharf was shining from the freshly layered paint.

And I laid me down, and you placed your head on me.

My only thought was how for once we seemed so free.

But what you did not say will haunt me all my days.

The world was open. The skies were red.

The willows hanged their heads; obeisance to the dead.

And we drove on through like envoys to the sun.

My head was cloudy but I let myself sink down.

Who I was that day is a million miles away.

Well, I’ve tried to understand where we diverged,

and all I’ve found are pieces of hurt

underneath my skin, and where I lay my head;

I know it sounds absurd,

but I know the answer’s there.

I just can’t untie my hands.

And so I make my way down sagging stairs,

onto the sidewalk, where I come to and stare

at the crazy sky, and the hold it puts on me

reminds me sharply of the world I cannot see.

Well, what I did not know seems so central now.

But I’ve tried to understand where we diverged,

and all I’ve found are pieces of hurt.

Underneath my skin, where I lay my head;

I know it sounds absurd,

but I know the answer’s there.

I just can’t untie my hands.

Calliope

Come on, Calliope, I need you to come,

to teach me the song and help me sing along.

Come on, Calliope, they all think I’m fine,

but I know it’s time to untangle my mind.

But I’m afraid that I won’t know what to do,

and the words will take flight in my head.

On the ground, where I sit within my world,

the worms will find their food.

I’m on the outside now, seemingly strong.

But watch for a while, and I’ll be falling down.

I’m amazed that I made it out alive

each time that I’ve taken your hand.

But I’m away, and I wanna get back again,

and get on with my life.

Come on, Calliope, I need you to come,

to teach me the song and help me sing along.

Either Way It Works

Solitude: it’s not that bad

when you get around the feeling that

you’ll never make it somewhere else,

and things set in.

Besides, where else is there to be?

I wouldn’t give this up for my life

but what’s that really worth?

The grass could be as green

either way it works.

You: you’re not that bad

when you get around the part of you

that feels like you’re someone else

than who you are.

Besides, who else is there to be?

I wouldn’t give this up for my life

but what’s that really worth?

The grass could be as green

either way it works.

Time will tell whether it’s far too long.

I’ll know what to do

when there’s something there to decide.

And as it stands, it’s just as strong.

The distance between goes on.

And you couldn’t know what you do,

and I fantasize what is true.

Or am I wrong again?

Yeah, and I couldn’t know what I do,

and you fantasize what is true.

Or are you wrong again?

Are you wrong again?

Concession Stand

“I said it right.”

“I let it out.”

These are hardly phrases

you will ever hear from me.

I’m out there, alright:

I’m in the hole!

And there’s hardly a man, woman, or child

who doesn’t know where I’ve been.

But I don’t leave you all with a bad

taste in your mouth after all?

I expected to be the one to lose control.

I don’t expect you to be the ones to let it go.

I thank my stars I’m on my way.

And if I can make a difference,

it’s only because you made it so.

I feel obliged to pay my way,

but if I can take assistance,

I’ll be the richest man of all.

And I say such things to let you

study my face for a while,

expecting to hear me say it’s all a joke.

I won’t expect you to be the ones to let it go.

Come Down

You’re lone, and I don’t know why.

You fall like it’s from the sky.

Am I wasting time trying to believe

that your faith is nigh impossible to sheath?

You form the mountain that you’re scaling up,

I believe, I believe.

You’re climbing higher, but you still belong

on the ground, so come on down.

You’ve known for a long, long time

you're part of something bigger.

Is it something I could honestly conceive

to be a basis for this self-adhesive need?

You call the level of your own demise,

I believe, I believe.

You saunter up the cliff and bravely dive

onto the ground, so come on down.

That’s a party.

You’re making part of this and so am I.

But I believe that I believe.

From that thing you’re on it’s just a stride

to the ground, so come on down.

I’m Not Gonna Sit Back

So I sing to you,

nothing ever comes of it.

You know I dream of you at night.

So I live for you,

it don’t change my life a bit.

You know I put up a hell of a fight.

And I feel better leaving this for now.

But don’t get your hopes up.

Forever is quite a chunk of time.

And I’m not gonna sit back

and wait for you to change.

I’m not gonna sit back

and wait for you to change your mind.

So I leave for you,

let you clear your mind a while

and work out how we’re gonna change.

Not a lot is new in town.

I take a while to wander round

and let the pride lose the war to shame.

I’d feel better to deal with this somehow

if you would only let me.

Forever is starting right about now.

And I’m not gonna sit back

and wait for you to change.

I’m not gonna sit back

and wait for you to change your mind.

And I’m not gonna sit back

and wait for you to change.

I’m not gonna sit back

and wait for you to change your mind.

Change your mind.

Really You

I formed a sentence from the silence.

I fall in lilies and let down my hair.

I can’t be someone I’ve seen

walking down the street.

I can’t be something I feel

without checking with the rest of me.

I can’t believe it

Is that really you?

I can’t believe it

Are you really home?

I felt the prison I forced inside me.

I sense the presence of the last Calliope.

I can’t believe what I’ve seen

wandering around my head.

I can’t believe what I’ve been,

walking around half-dead.

I can’t believe it

Is that really you?

I can’t believe it

Are you really home?

This is the last time I’ll take you there,

and watch you become your own -

This is the last time I’ll take you there,

and watch you become your own someone.

Home, are you really home?

Have you really come home?

Nowhere

Here I’ve got another chance to make it.

Did you ever believe

that I’d get here alive and in one piece?

The hopes we shared have all been shaken.

Well, I’m not sure,

but it seems like there’s more we haven’t seen,

if this is real.

All this is nowhere – it gets us nowhere.

It gets us torn.

And I believe you could be happy

if you’d just let it go,

dream of the world you haven’t seen.

Too late to play the part you wrote me.

And it’s, “Simmer down!

I can’t wait around for you to see

the whole time it wasn’t me.”

All this is nowhere – it gets us nowhere.

It gets us torn.

Top of the peak and I can see from here for miles

and I believe it isn’t something you could ever

get your hands on

and it’s something good, and something real,

and can’t you let me have my bit of sun

without contending that it’s ending

and you can’t be part of me?

All this is nowhere – it gets us nowhere.

It gets us torn.

Big Big Lie

So. Falling down?

Guess that’s the way it worked out.

Awfully dull.

I fritter the time in a vault. It’s gone.

Don’t believe all the things that you hear;

by default, it’s all roses now.

Star-crossed and all,

I've still got a head full of stones.

Stop me now,

before I wipe out on the car.

Who you think you are?

You act like you’re some kind of god,

like it’s all roses now.

Feel like a solid wall, I’m tired of it all,

a waste of a good brain.

Can’t help all the things that make me a freak,

that make me question all my thoughts.

For a long, long time,

I’ll bury my head in the yard,

stark and slight,

and run into things.

Who we are is a sham.

Tear it apart and you’re left with

your fear and your love.

And it’s all roses now.

Bad Brakes

I’m not the thing I was when I came here.

I’m falling off the edge of my short pier.

I’m killing myself off with all this cheap beer.

I’m talking about my end like it’s damn near over,

like it’s damn near gone.

Just give me what I want and I’ll thank you.

Just prep me for that jaunt and I’ll leave, too.

Just walk me to the wall and I’ll break through.

It’s not too far to crawl, so I’ll meet you halfway.

Yeah, I’ll meet you there.

Try to find yourself another

hiding place to trust your life to.

Kind enough to hold your tongue

when speaking truth in spiels and haikus.

Time is only short

when there’s some time to watch it flow.

And I forgot that I’m alive.

I always was alone, now I’m with you.

I always wandered home with my retinue.

I always took my blows as they’re issued.

I always fall below where I meant to find myself,

where I meant to be.

Give and thou shall get what you deserve

regardless of your bad brakes.

Where can I find God?

In Aisle 7 with the fat-free corn flakes?

More or less the same when averaged

over several months of heartache.

Some of what you say could make me

sick enough to change.

And I just remembered I’m alive.

Alive! I’m alive? I’m alive!

Different

I belong some-

I belong somewhere

other than this.

For the life of-

For the life of me,

I can’t remember

I can’t remember your name.

Don’t you know that you’re singular?

Don’t you know that you’re something else?

Don’t you know that you’re no one to forget?

I been lonesome.

I been lonesome

for your closeness.

I’m so gutless.

I’m impotent.

Take me from this.

Take me from this mess I made.

Don’t you know that you’re singular?

Don’t you know that you’re something else?

Don’t you know that you’re no one to forget?

I swear this time I’ll make it different.

I swear, I swear, I swear.