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Sylvan Hour

by Allison Crowe

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1.
Darling Be Home Soon Composed by John Sebastian Performed by Allison Crowe Come And talk of all the things we did today Here And laugh about our funny little ways While we have a few minutes to breathe Then I know that it's time you must leave But darling be home soon I couldn't bear to wait an extra minute if you dawdled My darling be home soon It's not just these few hours but I've been waiting since I toddled For the great relief of having you to talk to And now A quarter of my life is almost past I think I've come to see myself at last And I see that the time spent confused Was the time that I spent without you And I feel myself in bloom So darling be home soon I couldn't bear to wait an extra minute if you dawdled My darling be home soon It's not just these few hours but I've been waiting since I toddled For the great relief of having you to talk to Darling be home soon I couldn't bear to wait an extra minute if you dawdled My darling be home soon It's not just these few hours but I've been waiting since I toddled For the great relief of having you to talk to Go And beat your crazy head against the sky Try And see beyond the houses and your eyes It's ok to shoot the moon So darling My darling be home soon I couldn't bear to wait an extra minute if you dawdled My darling be home soon It's not just these few hours but I've been waiting since I toddled For the great relief of having you to talk to
2.
Effortless Words & Music by Allison Crowe I'm trying not to try so hard, Makes me wonder if it's really effortless, Or if I'm fooling myself? 'Cause if I have to put so much of me Into trying not to care, Where am I then? I'm lying. And do you see the way I walk away? I never really know what I should say, So it comes out wrong, If it comes out at all. So I straighten myself out, I bring me back down, "Don't be ridiculous, You are so wrong." But then I'm drifting, On a wave of thought. I get lost in the tides, And I can barely recognize myself. I don't mind, 'Cause do you see the way I walk away? I never really know what I should say, So it comes out wrong, If it comes out at all. So I try to act the way I would If I was someone that wasn't me. But you wipe that away, don't you? And I am falling down, I am tripping on words, I am out of my mind. You know, this is not like me. I'm not usually happy, I swear. And do you see the way I walk away? I never really know what I should say So it comes out wrong. And I turn my back And I don't look back. I am unafraid... ...but really I'm just kidding. I'm terrified, And I think I like it. And I don't care if I look ridiculous, Trying to be effortless.
3.
A Case of You Words & Music by Joni Mitchell As performed by Allison Crowe Just before our love got lost you said I am as constant as a Northern Star And I said, constantly in the darkness Where’s that at? If you want me I’ll be in the bar On the back of a cartoon coaster In the blue tv screen light I drew a map of Canada Oh Canada With your face sketched on it twice Oh you are in my blood like holy wine You taste so bitter and so sweet Oh I could drink a case of you darling And I would still be on my feet I would still be on my feet Oh I am a lonely painter I live in a box of paints I am frightened by the devil And I’m drawn to those that ain’t afraid And I remember when you told me, you said Love is touching souls Well surely you touched mine ’Cause part of you pours out of me In these lines from time to time Oh you’re, you are in my blood like holy wine You taste so bitter and you taste so sweet Oh I could drink a case of you I could drink a case of you darling And I would still be on my feet I would still be on my feet And I met a woman She had a mouth like yours She knew your life She knew your devils and your deeds She said Go to him, stay with him if you can But be prepared to bleed You are in my blood, you’re my holy wine You taste so bitter, baby, and you taste so sweet I could drink a case of you darling I would still be on my feet I would still be on my feet
4.
There Is Words & Music by Allison Crowe Open up your door I know we've both been here before But there's a shadow fading here A revolution on its way Open up your mind I know I've drowned in there before But my wings are drying off And I am ready to dive in I am coming back again To you A way There is a way Out of this There is Give me a minute I'll try to explain myself to you I am the girl who is always with you The one who's always watching Give me a break I thought that you understood this already And I'm not trying to deceive you I don't have that much time on my hands And I am not going to leave you alone A way There is a way Out of this There is I see you in the rain and you are more beautiful than I have ever seen And when I walk I want you with me And I see your smile above me and I know, I know there is A way there is a way out of this there is.
5.
Phoenix Words & Music by Allison Crowe You didn't have to hurt me, you know it wasn't entirely necessary and I'm not sure how much of that you meant and I'm not sure how far it went but that doesn't really matter now I meant every word I said except for one maybe it all just paved the way for what needed to happen anyways and out of the ashes I rise the one who can look up is the one who flies and remember to never look back or down don't crash into the ground and I am not a saint, yeah I get that I've had it explained to me far too many times but I do try, and I like to think that one day I'll get back what I've given and you said that I would never be happy and now that I am I wonder if you'd believe me anyways but that doesn't matter now and to tell the truth I don't care what you think 'cause out of the ashes I rise the one who can look up is the one who flies and remember to never look back or down don't crash into the ground I can't help you now, no I can't stop you so go ahead, crash into the ground...
6.
Running Words & Music by Allison Crowe Verse 1 Granted I've been a fool before But I've never felt So completely insane I know I've been here before But I never saw this For what it really was and Pre chorus: I hope that I can get my point across I hope that I don't lie dormant in the shadows now I know that I am running as fast as I can But I know that that's not very fast at all Chorus: I am trying so hard to be something That I just end up being nothing at all So watch me as I stumble now Watch me smile as I hit the ground Verse 2 Every time that I knew the truth I would just pretend That I wasn't hiding I'd tell myself that it's alright I know myself I think that's all that matters and Pre-Chorus: I hope that I can get my point across I hope that I don't lie dormant in the shadows now I know that I am running as fast as I can And I know that that's not very fast at all Chorus: I am trying so hard to be something That I just end up being nothing at all So watch me as I stumble now Watch me smile as I hit the ground Bridge: I always expect this I always see it coming I love it when it's faltering I love it when it's failing I know that there is Most likely something wrong with that But it's a part of who I am At least I think that it might be, anyway... I'm trying so hard to be something That I just end up being nothing at all So watch me as I stumble now Watch me smile as I hit the ground I'm trying so hard to be something That I just end up being nothing at all So watch me as I stumble now Watch me smile as I hit the ground... As I hit the ground... Watch me smile as I hit the ground
7.
This Little Bird Words & Music by Allison Crowe This little bird has a wander lust Yes, I am going to see everything I'm going to feel I'm going to understand something here something good In a land in a different ocean same idea, but different sea just to have you lying next to me Oh, I'll be dancing in the fire You'll be laughing at the stars We'll be shouting from the buildings We'll be waving at the cars that pass us by as we stand here as time moves around us we are steady in this moment no, time doesn't seem to phase us at all This little bird's flying East for the Winter And you may think that my navigational equipment is out of order but I know exactly what I’m doing and yes I know exactly where I'm going To a corner in the East after travelling so far just to be with you just to be where you are I'll be dancing in the fire You'll be laughing at the stars We'll be shouting from the buildings We'll be waving at the cars that pass us as we stand here as time moves around us we are steady in this moment No, time doesn't seem to move us at all from where we are We are standing in this moment no, time… This little bird’s gonna see the good life has to offer and how you can give your heart and still feel free
8.
Skeletons and Spirits Words & Music by Allison Crowe Take your sympathy and shove it as for the pain, well, I love it I'll eat your words I'll devour your soul I will laugh like a lemur as you crawl back into your hole I won't deny you, but I'll pay you no heed And, if you keep stabbing me, I will probably bleed But, I'll pretend I'm a cloud and my rain will surround you And if you keep hurting me I'll eventually drown you And, yes I know I'm a little bit off But, you, you can't leave, you can't open the door you think you're unique but I've seen you before so run, run away from the fires that burn you will do this again and again but you will never learn So keep looking down as you crush me keep smiling 'cause I will get up and there's no denying that I am one of your punching clowns you can keep on striking but you can't keep me down You always think that you are fearless and right but I think that you are afraid in the night of the ghosts, of the spirits that crawl into your head of the skeletons that'll haunt you until you're dead but, now, you can't leave, you can't open the door you think you're unique but I've seen you before so run, run away from the fires that burn you will do this again and again and again and again but, now, you can't leave, you can't open the door you think you're unique but I've seen it all before so run, run away from the fires that burn but you will never learn you will never learn you will never learn
9.
These Words Words & Music by Allison Crowe Hold my fears, take them I don't want to see them ever again You may not see, but I'm disfigured distorted in my own head hold my eyes, I don't wanna see the pain that I have caused myself but I could have run away, I could have hidden myself but I run faster when I confront these words these chains that break me these ropes that bind me when I try to be set free these words repeated heartlessly these words kill me, they kill me like my conscience, just not a part of me little demons released implanted inside my mind they call out to me, they bring me down they drag me across the stones and into the fire these words these chains that break me these ropes that bind me when i try to be set free these words repeated heartlessly these words kill me, they kill me and I never opened up, you know and I'm not sure I would have even if you let me I told you everything but you'll never get to see the best of me these words these chains that break me these ropes that bind me when I try to be set free these words repeated heartlessly these words kill me, they kill me
10.
I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You) Words & Music by Ronnie Shannon As performed by Allison Crowe You're no good heart-breaker You're a liar and you're a cheat And I don't know why I let you do these things to me My friends keep telling me That you ain't no good Lord, but, they don't know That I'd leave you if I could I guess I'm uptight But I'm stuck like glue I ain't never, I ain't never I ain't never, no, no, loved a man The way that I, I love you A long time ago I thought You had run out of fools But I was so wrong And now you got one that you'll never lose The way that you treat me is a shame How could you hurt me so bad Baby, you know that I'm the best thing That you ever had Kiss me once again Don't you never, never, never say that we we're through 'cause I ain't never, I ain't never I ain't never, no, no, loved a man The way that I, I love you I can't sleep at night I can't eat a bite Guess I'll never be free Since you got your hooks in me Yeah, Yeah, ayeah Yeah, yeah, yeaha I ain't never loved a man I ain't never had a man treat me so bad So I, I'll tell you just what I'm gonna do I'm gonna hold him Gonna hold him, hold him I ain't never loved a man the way that I I love you
11.
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
12.
Now (SH) 04:46 video
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
13.
Circular Reasoning Words & Music by Allison Crowe I am running headlong into a train and I would like to give this thing a name but for now, I am just happy to be me and I can't believe I just said that 'Cause I have waited so long for something so ridiculously simple and I can't believe that it is this easy but it is I am walking down this street alone but I don't care I don't need somewhere to belong to not with you in my mind ya, you just make a little home here but only if you want to Lord knows I'm easy now 'Cause I have waited so long for something so ridiculously simple and I can't believe that it is this easy but it is You you're a little light in my dark and I can see you if I try hard enough and while I work to leave the life I led before I realize I ran away just so I could stay but maybe with you somewhere, sometime 'Cause I have waited so long for something so ridiculously simple and I can't believe that it is this easy but it is

about

“Sylvan Hour is truly a masterpiece” says pioneering culture blog Muruch. (www.muruch.com/2015/05/allisoncrowe-sylvanhour.html)

Discover this music from a remarkable artist at a personal and creative crossroads in her life. “Sylvan Hour” is an album of songs bridging west and east, piano and guitar, then and now…

For fans of Allison Crowe at her purest, this is voice, one accompanying instrument – one take. Real-time performances in the sequence they're played and sung by Allison in a log-home on Salt Spring Island, BC, Canada.

That afternoon the musician was in the midst of migrating from her birthplace of Nanaimo, BC, on Canada’s Pacific, to a new nest in Corner Brook, NL, on the Atlantic coast. Soon to fly east, Crowe bade farewell to those near and dear on western shores – including compatriot Kayla Schmah on Salt Spring, neighbouring Vancouver Island.

Decades earlier Schmah’s parents had made an epic trek to the Pacific Northwest from Central Canada – in a repurposed donut truck. Planting themselves in the Gulf Islands archipelago, they lived at first in a converted parachute in the woods. From the ground up the home-steaders then built a family dwelling out of Douglas Fir – their “sylvan castle”.

Allison and Kayla, as musicians had shared stages together from their teens onward (and, years later, becoming a film-scorer in Hollywood, Schmah brilliantly orchestrated and produced Crowe’s album “Spiral”.) Among the friends together on SSI this day was Ryan Adams (who, like Schmah was a recent graduate of Berklee College of Music and was en route to becoming an in-demand tv/film audio engineer in Los Angeles).

With mics and a laptop set-up in the living-room, Adams captured this set of the newest songs in Allison’s repertoire – originals including “Skeletons and Spirits”, “Running”, and “Silence” as well as a trio of covers (interpreting songs famously by Joni Mitchell, The Lovin' Spoonful and Aretha Franklin).

Also gorgeous, but differently so, essentially group versions of most of these songs were released near the end of that same year (2006) on Allison Crowe’s album “This Little Bird” (the title track a celebration of her migration). “I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)” is the sole sylvan session recording released before – it’s presented now within the full hour of music for all time.

Enjoy this most natural of talents – in this most natural of settings.

credits

released May 5, 2015

Voice, Piano & Guitar ~ Allison Crowe
Engineer ~ Ryan Adams

Recorded one hour in the sylvan castle of the Schmah family, Salt Spring Island, BC, Canada

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Allison Crowe Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador

"Why music?" "Why breathing?"

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