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Sad Stories & Cautionary Tales

by Gabriel Goldstein

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  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    A limited edition hand assembled package from Sire Press Printing, silk-screened with original artwork by Adriana Atema, including liner notes, lyrics, chords and more. Package is 100% Post Consumer Material and printed with eco-friendly inks.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Sad Stories & Cautionary Tales via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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1.
There's no bears up in the hills why would there be? only to be hanging with RVs we're all hanging with RVs There's no people in the street why would there be? only to dodge cars we're all dodging cars There's no lovers in the bars why would there be? they're all at home watching movies on tv we're all watching movies on tv chorus: And it's hard to keep a steady pace When your boots are full of mud We can't undo what's been done And it seems to me the history of us spinning round the sun is trying to turn gold back into lead There's no diamonds in the rough why would there be? they're all stuck on ladies rings we're all stuck on ladies rings There's no poetry in songs why would there be? it's all used in advertising we're all used in advertising chorus There's no bears up in the hills why would there be? they're all at home watching movies on tv
2.
Sitting down by the bay watching airplanes come in they’re floating on air, passing me by. Looking out at far off mountains, things we cannot touch. Oceans and islands are all that lie between us. The cost of love is getting higher every day I don’t know when I will be willing to pay. People come from somewhere else, then they move on. I hope when I get back what we had won’t be long gone. Hitching down the Sterling highway, tryin’ out my luck. People take me in their cars, take me away. How could it be, that I met you right when I was gonna leave? Was I wrong, not to change my plans? Tell me that I can believe in you. Light from above, lead me my way, make me feel new as time comes crashing in on me.
3.
Ever since you let me down, didn’t want to go nowhere with nobody. I’ve been driving around. Got nowhere to go but I can’t slow down. We had a good day then, lying on a blanket by the riverside reading Tennessee Williams, doing all the parts, in the fading light- it wasn’t so bad. Was it so bad? Guess I’ll drive back up the coast, it’s a long way from San Diego up to San Francisco. I’ll take a few days, let the wind blow across my face. And I don’t know just what I did wrong but you’re telling me the feeling’s gone away. I tried to hear what you had to say you said a lot of words but I didn’t understand a thing. Nowhere to go but I can’t slow down I can’t slow down. Down, I can’t slow down. Ever since you let me down, didn’t want to go nowhere with nobody. I’ve been driving around.
4.
A Spare Key 04:29
I’m looking for something that’s not so hard to find like a locked door with a spare key you left me outside. I’ve been feeling like I’m lost in a maze waiting for someone to show me the way out of this place. And I don’t want to hear no from you no more. I saw your picture the other day and it hit me in the heart like a laser beam x-ray. You said you had a bad dream and you cut up your feet you were lost in a tangled mess of your own tracks. If I were some kind of hero I would rescue you but I don’t know if you’d even want me to. And so I called out from my dream to yours I could hear your voice so clearly. I didn’t tell you but you’re still my muse can you hear me singing, just for you? And I don’t want to hear no from you no more. I’m looking for something but it’s so hard to find your door is locked but there’s no spare key left outside.
5.
When the world doesn’t seem as magic as before and you don’t think something’s waiting behind the next door; when the brakes have gotten squeaky and the rotors start to rub you must lay aside your armor, it’s time to fall in love. Lay aside your armor, fall in love. When the radio only plays songs you already heard and the people who write newspapers are repeating every word; when your records are all skipping and the needle starts to bend throw down all your lances, it’s time to make a friend. Throw down all your lances, make a friend. When the water tastes like butter and there’s nothing left to win and the signs at the ocean all advise you not to swim; when the outboard motor’s tangled and the ropes are wearing thin forget about the radar, it’s time to jump right in. Forget about the radar, jump right in. When your frustrations become a nest into which you climb and you’re not sentimental for the things you left behind; when the audience is restless and they’re ready to walk out you must be your own conductor, stand up and take a bow. Be your own conductor, take a bow.
6.
Seems like everywhere I go, there’s got to be a goose fight who can honk the loudest, and run with their beak stuck out the farthest. You’re making a racket over there where you’re having your goose fight; talking crazy but you just don’t know. Seems like everywhere I go, there's got to be a goose fight feathers get ruffled and you know they have plenty to say about it. Seems a goose got in to another one’s nest; second goose got to have his revenge. We're all trying to get along but you gotta have your goose fight big goose is proud but the little goose got to be the proudest. So you pluck a couple feathers off the top of his head; watch out goose, you're bound to end up dead.
7.
I’m on the right side of the coin but the wrong side of the track; don’t know where I’m goin’ but I’m never coming back. There’s a million hungry people standing out there on the street. They’re calling out for help, Lord they want something to eat. But they shouldn’t stand there too long not twenty minutes more, or the blue boys come and get ‘em and ship ‘em off to war, boys, ship ‘em off to war. It’s a bloody nasty business governing a country that’s so big; and it’s hard to feed the skinny sheep when you got a hungry pig. Ain’t tryin’ to point no finger, I don’t know who to blame, and if I were in their fancy shoes, I’d probably do the same. Don’t got no diplomas, I’m no educated man but I try to do my best Lord, try to do the best I can, Lord, do the best I can. And the world is so confusing, my brain goes round and round. I don’t know where I’m standing, each day when the sun goes down. I’m on the right side of the coin but the wrong side of the track; don’t know where I’m going but I’m never coming back. But I shouldn’t stand here too long, not twenty minutes more or the blue boys come and get me, and ship me off to war, boys, ship me off to war.
8.
Manual 03:30
We’re learning to love but we’re growing attached to the past we hold on to but we can’t have that back. You can learn how to love by taking your time cause everything changes and ends in the blink of an eye, and so we must try- to let it roll past. I’m learning to love by letting you be cause you’re your own little universe perfectly free and alive you’re whole without me, so I can just let you be. We’re learning to love and to find the divine in the calm of a moment and the sound of the wind through the pines and it’s telling us why- we’ll be just fine.
9.
Nate and I could drive ninety-five let the states fly by, throw the beer cans outside. On our backs we’d lie, in a field all night looking at stars, twinkle and shine. Were they UFO’s? We’ll never know, but I don’t see him around any more. Jerry and I could talk all night let our legs hang over the edge of the roof. We’d make a fire, in a clearcut field drink some beers, he never could sleep. Talk of mysteries like chaos and why did his mama drink so much but I don’t see him around any more. Matt and I had our own band playing guitars by the Rivanna River. We’d sit in his car, in a cul-de-sac get so high, I thought we’d never come back. And we’d just laugh and laugh and laugh at the sounds a bird would make, but I don’t see him around any more. As time goes by, I realize the rules have changed but I'm still the same. Life got strange, and rearranged; these friends I had are far away. They live in different countries or they’re living with their wives or they’re real into cocaine. I guess we’ve all grown up somehow but they’re still with me now although the rules have changed I’m still the same, and I hope I see them around some day.
10.
Pink Balloon 04:05
I found a length of string and pink balloon, that had escaped one past June and made it all the way to Nevada. It left a birthday party, when all the children were singing now it watches the tumbleweeds pass. And it made a fine sight on the desert floor saying I had a good ride and I fell where I lay I found a reindeer tied to a fence post, people said it had been there for years on the side of the highway in Alaska. It came from a herd way up north, now it's chained up like a captive in hopes that the tourists would stop. And it made a sad sight on the highway side saying I just want to run let me fall where I may. Oh, to soar through the air knowing that gravity never fails. And oh, to go on the run when you don't know if it's over or maybe just begun. They say an explosion formed the world, and it left us out here spinning made it all the way to right now. And we're all a little bit captive, but we dream of an escape watching these moments go by. And the earth makes a fine sight way out here spinning sayin' have you a good ride it'll all end someday.

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released November 3, 2011

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Gabriel Goldstein Charlottesville, Virginia

Gabriel grew up in the foothills of the blue ridge mountains, and later moved west where he played with SF indie favorite Sweet Crude Bill & the Lighthouse Nautical Society. His music reflects the concerns of modern living while striving for a simpler, less fragmented existence, a contemporary country folk blues. He is currently in self-imposed exile from the Trump era, living in Arequipa, Peru. ... more

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