Get all 45 Allison Crowe releases available on Bandcamp and save 55%.
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1. |
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You All Haunt Me
Composed by Allison Crowe
I would take it back
if it was even real
I would tell you how
exactly how I feel
And it would be ugly
and you would be scared
Can’t you see my face?
Oh can you hear my voice?
Now, how can you tell me
that this is a choice,
that I asked for this?
Now, why would I do that?
When this is all I have
and this is all I am
You haunt me, you all haunt me
Now, if you think that I forgot
if you think that I moved on
I ask you - have you even met me?
what planet are you on?
I don't forget anything
even though I try
Maybe too intense
maybe too revealed
maybe madness baby
but you’re so, so concealed
I never saw a thing
This is all I have
and this is all I am
You haunt me, you all haunt me
Why did I do this?
Why did I say that?
and why did you pretend to care
when I know that you were watching me cry
yeah, you watched me die
When light circled my eyes
and my heart tried to leave me
My words were all gone wild
not even I could believe me
any more
you have to know that I tried
And this is all I have
This is all I am
You haunt me, yeah, you haunt me
You haunt me
Yeah, you all haunt me
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2. |
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Arthur
Words & Music by Allison Crowe
And the weight of this war
We are fighting
Is a door that is opening
And sighing
You say come back inside
It is warm here
You have seen it out there
And you ran
away
If you lift without strength
Can you move it
Or the sword in this stone
Would you lose it
Are you Arthur
Or only pretending
And this hope you have burned
Are you sending
away
Away, away…
Would you hold me
If I disappeared now
And if I didn’t know
Who I was
Would you stay with me
While I was losing
Or lay down your sword
And run
away
Would you still love me
If I forgot you
If my heart held to
Only a thread
In the flicker of eyes
I would see you
Would you carry me back
from my dread
away
Away, 'way, away
away, away
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3. |
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Tarry Trousers
Traditional - Arrranged by Allison Crowe
As I roved out one fine Summer's ev'ning
to view those flow'rs and to take the air
't'was there I spied a tender mother
talking to her daughter dear
Singing, "Daughter, o daughter, I'll have you to marry"
"No longer to live a sweet single, life"
"O mother, o mother, I 'd rather to tarry"
"To be some brave young sailor's wife"
"A sailor shy sits all for to wander"
"To some foreign count'r'y he'd go"
"They will cause you to sigh and to murmur"
"They will prove your overthrow"
"Or, if you could get me to wed with a farmer"
"To be your joy and heart's delight"
"But give me the boy with the tarry, tarry trousers"
"To shine in my eyes like a diamond bright"
She hung her head on the top of her shoulders
Tears from her eyes like a fountain flowed
"I'll stay at home and be true-hearted"
"whilst my love to the sea doth go"
"Hark, o hark, how the great guns are rattling"
"Big and small, they all make noise"
"My true love's in the field of battle"
"Now fight on, my gallant boy"
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4. |
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The Foggy Shores of Home
Composed by Gary O'Driscoll
As performed by Allison Crowe
I've sailed upon the ocean wide,
I've sailed the world around;
I've sailed on barques and brigantines,
From Lisbon to St John's.
I've sailed where the ocean tossed and rolled,
I've sailed where the ocean foams;
I've sailed where the ice floes thunder and roll,
To bring the white coats home.
Wherever you may ramble,
Wherever you may roam,
Wherever you may be,
You'll be happy to see,
The foggy shores of home.
I've sailed down to the South Sea Isles,
I've sailed where the trade winds come;
I've sailed on schooners listing low,
To bring home 'backey and rum.
I've sailed to the city of New York,
To labour in the sky;
High above the streets below,
To home my heart would fly.
Wherever you may ramble,
Wherever you may roam,
Wherever you may be,
You'll be happy to see,
The foggy shores of home.
One day I will sail back home,
To my dear foggy shore;
I'll plough the ground of my hometown,
And go to sea no more.
Wherever you may ramble,
Wherever you may roam,
Wherever you may be,
You'll be happy to see,
The foggy shores of home.
Wherever you may ramble,
Wherever you may roam,
Wherever you may be,
You'll be happy to see,
The foggy shores of home.
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5. |
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Oceans
Words & Music by Allison Crowe
I have a heart that’s torn between two oceans
Please don’t confuse me with the sea
In the flicker of an eyelash - and a nap
I’m off to Germany
Folds of the time that we never spend
Wrap around me like an illness
Now I have a contentment in me
A small death likened to stillness
And I am alive
And this is not contrived
It’s just how I feel about you
And you and you
A calm and fickle breeze blows through
Sand rolling between the toes of strangers
The laughter and the tearing eyes
Aware but uncaring of the dangers
Words thrown out and cast back slow
Testing the bridges and waters clear
Faces lovely, too fleeting to hold
See them truly, void of fear
And I am alive
And this is not contrived
It’s just how I feel about you
And you and you
The heart collides in small bursts of sparks
And holds true sometimes to false
But you’re nothing if you don’t feel this
You’d barely have a pulse
And so I continue on my merry way,
A gypsy twisting with imaginary lovers
Together with so many in the tides of day
Alone beneath the covers
But I am alive
And this is not contrived
It is just how I am feeling about you
And you and you and you
It is just how I feel about you
And you and you and you
And you
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NB Merci beaucoup, Michèle-Marie Joubert! Thanks to Michèle-Marie, we can now enjoy the lyrics to “Océans” in a version française along with the version anglaise. Here’s the translation she’s kindly posted:
Oceans - Allison Crowe [Traduction des Paroles]
Océans
J'ai un cœur déchiré entre deux océans
S'il vous plaît ne me confondez pas avec la mer
Dans le scintillement d'un cil et d'une sieste
Je pars en Allemagne
Les plis du temps que nous ne dépensons jamais
Enrouler autour de moi comme une maladie
Et maintenant j'ai un contentement en moi
Une petite mort comparée au calme
Et je suis vivant
Et ce n'est pas artificiel
C'est juste ce que je pense de toi
Et toi et toi ...
Un vent calme et inconstant souffle à travers
Sable roulant entre les orteils d'étrangers
Le rire et les yeux déchirés
Conscient mais indifférent des dangers
Mots jetés et retournés lentement
Essai des ponts et des eaux
Faces charmantes, trop fugitives pour tenir
Voyez-les vraiment, sans crainte
Et je suis vivant
Et ce n'est pas artificiel
C'est juste ce que je pense de toi
Et toi et toi ...
Le cœur se heurte en petites rafales d'étincelles
Et est vrai parfois à faux
Mais vous n'êtes rien si vous ne sentez pas cela
Vous auriez à peine un pouls
Et ainsi je continue sur mon chemin joyeux,
Une torsion gitane avec des amants imaginaires
Avec tant de gens dans les marées du jour
Seul sous les couvertures
Mais je suis vivant
Et ce n'est pas artificiel
C'est exactement ce que je ressens pour vous
Et toi et toi et toi
C'est juste ce que je pense de toi
Et toi et toi et toi
Et toi
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6. |
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Why
Words & Music by Annie Lennox
As Performed by Allison Crowe
How many times do I have to try to tell you
That I'm sorry for the things I've done
But every time I go to tell you
That's when you have to tell me
Hey, this kind of trouble's only just begun
I told myself too many times
Why don't you learn to keep your big mouth shut
That's why it hurts so bad to hear the words
That keep on falling from your mouth
Falling from your mouth
Falling from your mouth
Tell me
Why
Tell me, why
I may be mad
I may be blind
I may be viciously unkind
But I can still read what you're thinking
And I've heard it said too many times
That you'd be better off
Besides
Why can't you see that this boat is sinking
this boat is sinking, this boat is sinking
Let's go down to the water's edge
And we can cast away your doubts
Some things are better left unsaid
But they still turn me inside out
Turning inside out,
turning inside out
Tell me
Why
Tell me
Why
This is the book I never read
And these are the words I never said
And this is the path I'll never tread
And these are the dreams I'll dream instead
And this is the joy that's seldom spread
And these are the tears,
The tears we’ve shed
This is the fear
And this is the dread
And these are the contents of my head
These are the years that we have spent
And this is what they represent
This is how I feel
Do you know how I feel?
I don't think you know how I, why I, feel
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7. |
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On the Air
Composed by Allison Crowe
I can feel it coming and when it has passed
there will be no trace of me
other than faded words that have already been spoken
and promises that I will keep until
not even memory exists in my name
I will never desert you
and my spirit will never leave you
even though my spirit is about to leave myself
I’ve placed more faith in you
than I have in anything
And I will run when I can't breathe
I will give what is left of my bones
and I will wait for you on the air.
I have given you my soul and I only ask
that you could treat it better than I have
and if I could ask one more little thing of you
…to give me peace in a time
where I’m fighting a battle I can only lose
burning rain can't tear this away
and my eyes run into my soul at its purest form
I am sinking further in to my mind
as the truth runs down my face to die
And I will run
when I can't breathe I will give
what is left of my bones
and I will wait for you on the air...
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8. |
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Now
Words & Music by Allison Crowe
As I walk this hall alone I wonder
exactly why it is I'm leaving
when there's nothing there for me to return to
other than blind faith
with a lack of believing
and not to say that I have nothing
I have everything and I am grateful
but my head is trying to tell me something
in this state of mind I feel so hateful
and I don't understand
and I'm not going to try to because
now that I've seen it
I couldn't walk away no
even if I wanted to, yes
now that I've seen it
even though I'm leaving now
every bit of me is still there
well I am filled with a quiet resolution
and questions posed without solution
and in my realm of indecision
finally I feel as though I can see something
and though this beacon's ever flashing
Ii can't revisit without rehashing
when I'm stuck in where I created fear
I cannot fix myself from here
and I'm starting to understand
at least in this state I believe something
because
now that I've seen it
I couldn't walk away no
even if I wanted to, yes
now that I've seen it
even though I'm leaving now
every bit of me is still there
the amount of times
I've seen the edge
of my own head
is unrelenting
the floor falls out
and I am left with
thoughts that move
without consenting
when all I want is peace
and all I want to believe in
is knowing without seeing
and wanting without fear
now that I've seen it
I couldn't walk away no
even if I wanted to, yes
now that I've seen it
even though I'm leaving now
every bit of me is still there
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9. |
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Going Home Tonight
Words & Music by Allison Crowe
I know the night is on us
and la lune it moves above
just try not to close your eyes
The windows float around
and the ice flies by our heads
and skirts the surface now
And you've seen
the darker side of me
and you still find a light
it's not much further now
We're going home tonight
Le soleil is a reminder
that what once was cold can warm
the dark can fall behind her
it's in your shadow now
the winter's at its end
and all can fall to blindness of the freezing rain
and I see the darker side of me
and I still find a light
it's not much further now
We're going home tonight
Forget what you have learned here
it doesn't matter now
not while the grass is greening
L'oiseau is loudly singing
and the sun becomes her home
and everything is fallen
the curtains drop as she takes hold
And sees the darker side of me
and she still finds a light
it's not much further now
We're going home tonight
And I see the darker side of me
and I still find a light
it's not much further now
We're going home tonight
We’re going home
Tonight
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10. |
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Now I'm 64
Traditional
As performed by Allison Crowe
I pondered on those days gone by as I sat beside the mill
and gazed upon the setting Sun as it sank beneath the hill
I gazed on it once more, me boys, ’t’was the very Sun I've seen
Well, it's just the same now as it was when we were sweet 16
Oh, how I long for those bright days to come again once more
But come again they never will for now I'm 64
The little fish swim in the brook and wander down below
They swim until, and ever will, as they did long ago
The little meadow by the brook is just as fresh and green
It’s just the same now as it was when we were sweet 16
Oh, how I long for those bright days to come again once more
But come again they never will for now I'm 64
Oh, the past is past and she is gone, on Earth we'll meet no more
But we will meet in Heaven above on that eternal shore
And when we meet we'll part no more, we both will reign supreme
No more to sing of days gone by when we were sweet 16
Oh, how I long for those bright days to come again once more
But come again they never will for now I'm 64
Oh, how I long for those bright days to come again once more
But come again they never will for now I'm 64
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11. |
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Words
Composed by Allison Crowe
I'll sit here and I'll ruminate
My thoughts do not discriminate
There are tears behind my mouth
If I open they'll fall out
Breathe deeply, reign it in again
My patience it is growing thin
If I open up my mouth it'll all fall out
And all it takes is words
And all I taste is blood
And all I see
is blinding light
Now I can't breathe
I am so angry I can't breathe
A flash of darkness supersedes
And I try to reach you through the reeds
and the pitfalls of myself
I am becoming someone else
I do not know the way back dear
Oh, you will find no answers here
More questions than you wanted
will leave you cold and haunted
And all it takes is words
And all I taste is blood
And all I see
is blinding light
And I can't breathe
I am so angry I can't breathe
I cannot breathe
I am so angry
I’m so angry
I can’t breathe
And I can’t breathe
I’m so angry I can’t breathe
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12. |
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Lisa's Song
Words and Music by Allison Crowe
I want to be the one
To say that I found you safe
And held you in my arms
I want anyone else in the world
to tell me
that they did too
And took you home
Across the field and to your door
and said, hey baby it’s cool,
There’s no reason to be scared anymore.
Took you home
held you in, held you in, held you in.
Just stay at home
Don’t come outside to play
Circumstance beyond control
I feel so helpless
My mind is racing and breaking
me into a million pieces
because I can’t
Take you home
across the river and to your door
Take you home and
cut through the darkness
You don’t have to cry anymore
Take you home
Hold you in, hold you in, hold you in.
You can call
me
You can call
me
You can call
me
You can call
Take you home
across the sea and to your door
Take you home
but I’m so scared
Home isn’t here anymore
Take you home
hold you in
Through the nightshade and under the stars
Hold you in
Hold you in
Hold you in
Hold...
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13. |
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Silence
Words & Music by Allison Crowe
Silence
In the darkness of your soul
Following your call
Grey skies
Belong to me
Open my eyes
Rain falls
On you
On me
You cannot control
Where you are
supposed to be
Bring the winds
That carry you
Bring them to me
I will hold
This rebel light
This renegade sea
Rain falls
On you
On me
I cannot control
Where I am
Supposed to be
I wait in the dark
I carry these chains
I roam through this night
No I’ll not open the door
For you to be free
For you to take flight
Rain falls
On you
On me
We cannot control
where we
are supposed to be
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14. |
Chelsea Hotel No.2
03:33
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Chelsea Hotel No. 2
Words & Music by Leonard Cohen, Ron Cornelius
Performed by Allison Crowe
I remember you well in the Chelsea Hotel,
you were looking so brave and so sweet,
giving me head on the unmade bed,
while the limousines wait in the street.
Well, those were the reasons, that was New York,
we were running for the money and the flesh
That was called love for the workers in song
probably still is for those of them left
Ah, but you got away, oh, didn't you baby,
you just turned your back on the crowd,
you got away, I never once heard you say,
I need you, I don't need you,
I need you, I don't need you
' all of that jiving around.
I remember you well in the Chelsea Hotel
you were famous, your heart was a legend
And you told me again - you preferred handsome men
but for me you would make an exception
And then clenching your fists for the ones like us
who are oppressed by the figures of beauty,
you fixed yourself, you said, "Well, never mind,
we are ugly but we have the music"
Ah, but you got away, oh, didn't you baby
You just turned your back on the crowd
You got away, I never once heard you say
I need you, I don’t need you
I need you, I don’t need you
And all of that jivin’ around
I don't mean to suggest that I loved you the best,
I can't keep track of each fallen robin.
I remember you well in the Chelsea Hotel,
that's all, I don't think of you that often
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15. |
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Secrets
Words & Music by Allison Crowe
verse 1
you know I hold these in
and I take them for myself
I'm covered in guilt
but it's not my own
there isn't any reason
for me to feel like I'm dying
I'm done with being afraid
I'm done with lying
chorus:
and I am not an angel
I'm more like Mona Lisa
there's something hiding in me
there's always something behind my smile
and I know that I'm not perfect
and maybe I am the court jester
I'm the life of the party
and I know too much about the court...
I have these secrets that aren't my own
verse 2
so take this how you want to
I'm not here to judge you
I just want to be in love with you
I just want to forget myself
i want to just be ignorant
please take this pain away from me
down to the river and out to the sea
down to the river and out to the sea
chorus:
and I am not an angel
I'm more like Mona Lisa
there's something hiding in me
there's always something behind my smile
and I know that I'm not perfect
yeah, I am the court jester
I'm the life of the party
and I know too much about the court...
I have these secrets that aren't my own
verse 3
it's too far to reach.
but I'm too scared to let go.
it's too close to ignore
but I feel so far away now
I'm crawling in the ceiling
I'm scratching through the walls
I'm trying to scream
but my own hand is on my throat
chorus:
And I am not an angel
I'm more like Mona Lisa
there's something hiding in me
there's always something behind my smile
and I want to be like Venus
to just bare it all and face the world
but I'm tangled in these blankets
I'm caught in between the lines
I have these secrets that aren't my own
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Allison Crowe Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador
"Why music?" "Why breathing?"
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