1. |
Metropolitan Age
03:53
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The chairs have been moved, the shutters are gone,
a real estate sign is hammered in the lawn
And as I walk through the empty house, it all feels strange
The tables have folded, they cashed in their chips,
over there, there’s a stain from where the ceiling drips
I guess I shouldn’t be surprised it’s time to turn the page
Small towns aren’t forever in a metropolitan age
I was born in this room, in a double bed,
and I would fall asleep to stories that my father read
And the stars were on the ceiling—when did that change?
We planted these oaks in the side of the yard
they basked in the sun so they’d gleam in the stars
and this treehouse in the back would turn into a stage
I’d say “one day I’ll make it big in this metropolitan age”
I don’t really feel as sad as I thought I would
When you said it’s time to go, I understood
a little relieved we left when things were still good
We did all we should
And now I’m pacing a floor that seems impossibly loud
But looking ‘round the house, I only feel proud
of everything we’d done before we outgrew the place
We could’ve pretended that nothing was wrong
But that only would’ve kept us alive for so long
Cuz sooner or later, we would’ve been living in a cage
So let’s pack our things and drive to the metropolitan age
It couldn’t hurt to try the metropolitan age
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2. |
Secondhand City
03:45
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You’re flying down Oxnard, a right on Vineland
You start to hear the bustle, then you see the signs and
You feel it in your chest cuz you know she’s waiting for you
You pick her up at her place, take off down the street
You both feel the pulse of a third heartbeat
Coming from this secondhand city
South on the 101, you’re off to see a show
But first you drive to Silver Lake, to the Thirsty Crow
And then to WeHo, just as the band plugs in
The two of you meet up with a couple old friends
And no one thinks the night’s ever gonna end
Cuz nothing stops when you’re young in this secondhand city
And for just a little while
The week don’t exist
And tonight’s the only night there ever was
You wrap her up close
And she gives you a kiss
But before you know, it’s last call at the bar
You take the long way back, just to make it last
All the cars on the freeway seem to go so fast
Then you get a thought and you turn around
You drive through the hills, find the spot with the sign
Where the two of you knew for the very first time
You’re meant to be together, taking on this secondhand city
Yeah you’re meant to be together, taking on this secondhand city
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3. |
Harder To Stay
03:35
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This city feels a size too small
Just like an old pair of jeans
Through the pains of growing up tall
They ripped at the seams
These cozy storefront windows
And three tier parking lots
Remind me if I don’t move on,
I might as well stop
There’s something in the air
That’s telling me it’s time to go away
It’s hard to leave
But it’s harder to stay
I’m not turning my back on the city
Or the memories that I keep
Tucked away in my pocket, sometimes
They help me get to sleep
There’s something in the air
That’s telling me it’s time to go away
It’s hard to leave
But it’s harder to stay
But the sway of the breeze
In the warm Topanga trees
Has made me a little starry-eyed
And I don’t know how to get
Where I wanna end up
The best I can do is just drive
There’s something in the air
That’s telling me it’s time to go away
It’s hard to leave
But it’s harder to stay
There’s something in the air
That’s telling me it’s time to go away
It’s hard to leave
But it’s harder to stay
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4. |
More Than Words
02:59
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You have the shelly sands of Venice in the corners of your eyes
And looking at them, I feel like I know you a little more
I thought the stars were burning a bit brighter that night
But really, I’d never looked at them before
It’s more than words
It’s a feeling, I guess
I’ll do my best to take things slow
Cuz I want for nothing more than this to grow
You have your life, and I have mine
That’s the beauty of this Hollywood production
I’m nervous to trust so quickly this time
But I don’t think I’d do it for just someone
It’s more than words
It’s a feeling, I guess
I’ll do my best to take things slow
Cuz I want for nothing more than this to grow
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5. |
She's A Chameleon
03:26
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She gets home after making the rounds
She cuts through the town like a rumor
She’s worn out, as she pulls off her shoes
It’s hard not to lose your sense of humor
And it’s exhausting to have that many friends
She’s a chameleon
She’ll change herself again and again
She’s a chameleon
It’s how she’s always been
And that’s a guarantee
It’s how she’ll always be
She really tries to keep everything straight
She knows what to say and when you should
Just be classy, not too flashy
Trashy never looked so good
And charm while you can, steal all the rest of their hearts
She’s a chameleon
She’ll change herself again and again
She’s a chameleon
It’s how she’s always been
And that’s a guarantee
It’s how she’ll always be
What’ll happen at the end of the night?
She looks in the mirror and just sees the sight
Of the loneliest kid in the world
She’s a chameleon
She’ll change herself again and again
She’s a chameleon
It’s how she’s always been
And that’s a guarantee
It’s how she’ll always be
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6. |
You Wouldn't Know
04:01
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In the pale blue light from the nickel moon
You wouldn’t know how it looks when your hair frames your face
A picture perfect portrait on a pillow in your room
You wouldn’t know
You wouldn’t know
Making coffee in the morning right before I leave
You wouldn’t know how your arms feel wrapped up in mine
The way they rise and fall every time you breathe
You wouldn’t know
You wouldn’t know
And all the thoughts I have
when I look into your eyes
There’s no way I could say them all
And all the things I feel
when you look into mine
Make me realize you feel them too
The way your voice sounds when you sing in my ear
You wouldn’t know, and I can’t tell you, cuz I don’t have the words
but it’s the only sound on earth I ever want to hear
You wouldn’t know
You wouldn’t know
And all the thoughts I have
when I look into your eyes
There’s no way I could say them all
And all the things I feel
when you look into mine
Make me realize you feel them too
And I know you do
You wouldn’t know
You wouldn’t know
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7. |
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Fogged up windows from smudging sage
Dripping glass from the pouring rain
The clouds rolled through when you drove away
But it’s just a temporary goodbye
A phone call, some questions, and then to see
the sight of your car smashed up by the tree
It was all too real for me to believe
it’s just a temporary goodbye
I wear your shirt at night even though you aren’t here
so I can still wake up with you around me
I’ve thought of you every day for thirty-odd years
but somehow you slip further away
I’m older now, but you’re young in my head
I’m haunted by “what-if’s” that hang by a thread
But I’m still holding on to the last thing you said
It’s just a temporary goodbye
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8. |
Behind The Numbers
04:44
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Behind the numbers, a single mother
Tears off all the coupons for the store
She knows the drill, she’s been laid off before
Behind the numbers, her older brother
Closes up the diner in the sticks
Take-out’s not enough to feed a family of six
Behind the numbers, they had another
Neighbor’s son the doctors said was dead
In a parking garage tethered to an I.C.U. bed
Behind the numbers, he had a lover
And it tore her apart to leave his side
They wouldn’t let her see him, even as he died
When sickness strikes America
It seems like all we take
Is one step forward and two steps back
We tally up fatalities
But never see the faces
Of a million people lost between the cracks
Behind the numbers, under cover
And threatening those who fail to get in line,
The Coward in Chief tells empty seats the country’s doing fine
Behind the numbers, standing tougher,
The coupon woman tries to remember
The only way through this is if we stick together
Behind the numbers, do you wonder,
Whose story might never be heard?
So if somebody’s hurting, hang on to every word
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9. |
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On black tar pavement
A bottle bursts like stars
it shines in the street
from oncoming headlights
as we make our way toward
the glowing neon bar
The groove makes us move
as we wander inside
And already you wanna hold my hand
Well listen I’m just here to hear the band
Let’s just see where the night takes us, y’know?
There’s no telling where we’ll be at the end of the show
Endless excitement awaits us
At least until the hour escapes us
Let’s just see where the night takes us
We dance with our reflections
on dirty hardwood floors
Our feet start shaking
As soon as the beat hits
Smeared stamps on our wrists,
and hands in the air for more
but when we go, there’s another show
we really can’t miss
I’d rather take on the pulse of the city with you
than crash on the couch after an empty screw
Let’s just see where the night takes us, y’know?
There’s no telling where we’ll be at the end of the show
Endless excitement awaits us
At least until the hour escapes us
Let’s just see where the night takes us
Let’s just see where the night takes us
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10. |
Moonlit Fognight
04:29
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The sound of nothing pressed down on my neck
While the moon puffed a cigarette smoke cloud
The endless repetition of a broken record day
All the haunted barbershops without a soul around
Imagine stepping out into the moonlit fognight
On the roof, above the blinking skyline lights
Would the city still be breathing?
Would its heartbeat still be beating?
Will we make it out alright?
They’re sifting through the river for surgeon masks
And the theaters’ve turned their lights off and closed their doors
People reaching out through shattered computer screens
Is like trying to make love between cracks in the floorboards
Imagine stepping out into the moonlit fognight
On the roof, above the blinking skyline lights
Would the city still be breathing?
Would its heartbeat still be beating?
Will we make it out alright?
How long will this go on? I wish I knew
All we hear is the tick of the doomsday clock
Living afraid it’ll be over all too soon
Imagine stepping out into the moonlit fognight
On the roof, above the blinking skyline lights
Would the city still be breathing?
Would its heartbeat still be beating?
Will we make it out alright?
Will we make it out tonight?
Will we make it out alright?
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Luke Frees Chicago, Illinois
I'm a songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, performer, and producer living in Chicago. My songs are melodic and have a strong emphasis on narratives, with lyrics that often tell a story.
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