[Dave's True Story] Lyrics

From http://www.davestruestory.com/music/lyrics.html

Dave's True Story was an American jazz-pop group consisting of Kelly Flint on vocals, David Cantor on guitar, and Jeff Eyrich on bass. They were known for Cantor's witty, risqué lyrics contrasted with Flint's warm, delicate voice.

Cantor, from Long Island, and Flint, from Indiana, met in the early 1990s in Greenwich Village. Cantor drew inspiration from Donald Fagen for cynical lyrics and jazz chord changes, while Flint was a fan of Joni Mitchell.[1] Bassist Jeff Eyrich joined the group and became their manager.[2]

After their debut album in 1994, they signed with audiophile label Chesky Records and released Sex Without Bodies. Dave's True Story received favorable press and a loyal following in New York City night clubs. They won the Kerrville Music Award and appeared on Christmas compilations for Hear Music and Pottery Barn.[3] They also won an award for the song "Everlasting No" at the Independent Music Awards.[4]

In 2001 two Dave's True Story songs, "Crazy Eyes" and "Sequined Mermaid Dress", appeared in the movie Kissing Jessica Stein. Their songs also appeared on the TV shows Satisfaction and Breaking Bad. Flint made a solo album, Drive All Night, in a folk music style. Dave's True Story broke up in 2007.[2]

LYRICS from the album 'Nature'

BLUE NILE

Blue Nile…watching the blue water

Blue Nile…watching the day break

Blue Nile…so much like blue water

Blue Nile…so much like heartache

So much like heartache

All along the river where the tall birds sway

And the women crowd the shore

You can watch the river and the birds of prey

I don't do that anymore

Blue Nile…floating on blue diamonds

Blue Nile…floating on blue lake

Blue Nile…filling with blue water

Blue Nile…making my heart break

Making my heart break

By the muddy river where the tall birds sway

And the women crowd the shore

Get too near the river you get in their way

I won't do that anymore

Blue Nile…nothing like blue water

Blue Nile…nothing like daybreak

Blue Nile…nothing but blue water

Blue Nile…what can the heart take

How much can the heart take

Kelly Flint: Vocals

David Cantor: Guitar

Jeff Eyrich: Bass

Jon Dryden: Piano

Richard Crooks: Drums

Fred Walcott: Percussion

Bernhard Ullrich: Soprano Sax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHASING THE WHITE LINE DOWN

Three days from Culver

Had nothing left to show there

Chasing the white line down

Chasing the white line down

Gun metal sunrise

Sweet sight for these shunned eyes

Chasing the white line down

Taking it town by town

Chasing the white line down…

Soft yielding shoulder

Cold was never colder

Chasing the white line down…

Naked ambition

The underage edition

Chasing the white line down

Trampling the sacred ground

Chasing the white line down…

Shedding a tear for the blessed

Saying a prayer for the rest

Saying goodbye to the best, in me

Desert town of Dover

There's someone that I know there

Spreading the blame around

Chasing the white line down…

Kelly Flint: Vocal

David Cantor: Guitar

Jeff Eyrich: Bass, Background Vocal

Jon Dryden: Piano

Bob Malone: Electric Piano

Rich Zukor: Drums

Fred Walcott: Percussion

Steve Gluzband: Flugel Horn

Tom Beckham: Vibes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CINDER

There's a girl in a window

Twisting braids in her hair

There's a girl in a window

But there's no window there

She is weaving her fingers

Through each tangle and turn

It's a moment to linger

It's a moment to burn

CHORUS:

The world's a cinder

Yo soy muy linda

Sit back and watch me...

There's a bird in the cupboard

There's a bird at the gate

There's a bird on my headboard

And a bird on my plate

There's a cloudburst of starlings

Pouring down on the square

And a girl in a window

Twisting braids in her hair

CHORUS

I've been talking a blue streak

But it's all so absurd

With this small noisy creature

Tearing holes in my words

There’s a glass on the nightstand

And a bed still unmade

And a girl in a window

With her hair in a braid

CHORUS 2x

Kelly Flint: Vocal

David Cantor: Guitar

Jeff Eyrich: Bass

Rich Zukor: Drums, Djembe

Roger Bruno: Accordion, Shakers

Steve Gluzband: Flugel Horn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DOG’S LIFE

The sun's intervention is creeping 'cross the floor

I turn with a heart heavy sigh

The bone of contention is hanging from the door

It's one more day in a dog's life

The bells of the churchyard are ringing soft and sweet

The day of redemption is nigh

So what sort of fresh hell can I expect to meet

When I'm already stuck in a dog's life

It's a dog's life I'm sorry to say

It's a dog's life but I make my own way

And each good intention

Is never quite that pure

This dog's life is hard to endure

In my estimation it's tough to stake your claim

In a world full of torments and lies

You can't pull your reputation from the flames

And you can't squeeze love from a dog's life

It's a dog's life that's easy to say

It's a dog's life but I make my own way

And each good intention

Goes right into the sewer

This dog's life is hard to endure

I woke up this morning and found my TV on

I was wrapped in its glorious light

I woke up this morning and found my lover gone

And I took my place in the dog's life

It's a dog's life I'm sorry to say

It's a dog's life but I make my own way

And each good intention

Is never quite that pure

This dog's life is hard to endure

It's a dog's life it pains me to say

It's a dog's life and I make my own way

No ounce of prevention

Will kill you like the cure

This dog's life is hard to endure

Kelly Flint: Vocal

David Cantor: Guitar, Ukulele

Jeff Eyrich: Bass

Jon Dryden: Piano

Rich Zukor: Drums

J. Walter Hawkes: Trombone

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EVERLASTING NO

Charley stands on the block

In a shoe and one grey sock

I try to care

But that never gets you anywhere

So I sit in this booth

Drinking slow, divining truth

And the long, long way to go

To the everlasting no

From her fire escape seat

Miranda guards the street

While on her bed,

A newborn baby lays its head

It's a boy it's a girl

It's one more chump against the world

With a long, long way to go

All for that everlasting no

I had breakfast with my father

In a downtown luncheonette

And we sat and eyed each other

With suspicion and regret

Then I walked down to the river

Where the boats would pitch and woo

And the river said "Forgive her”

I could swear it said "Forgive her”

But it wouldn't tell me who

Had no fear, had no doubt

Had this racket all scammed out

A real hard case

Then I chanced to look upon your face

It's a gift, it's a curse

Either way, it 's getting worse

But so hard to let it go

To your everlasting no

Kelly Flint: Vocals

David Cantor: Guitar

Jeff Eyrich: Bass

Jon Dryden: Electric Piano

Rich Zukor: Drums, Percussion

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HOW DO YOU BREAK A HEART?

A half-used jar of some strange lotion

A dimestore ring without its stone

A turn of the latch and then it's open 

A turn of a phrase and then it's gone

Inside these walls no word is spoken

Inside these words a one-note song

I push at the skin but it's been broken

I push at the skin a bit too long

CHORUS:

But how do you break a heart?

How do you break a heart?

How do you break a heart?

We stuff ourselves with cool and cunning

We're quick to hide our reckless grace

A glimpse of your eyes

The work is stunning

A glimpse of your past is all the rage

CHORUS

I push at the words as if I'm joking

I push at the words as if they're wrong

CHORUS 2x

Kelly Flint: Vocal

David Cantor: Guitar

Jeff Eyrich: Bass

Jon Dryden: Piano

Richard Crooks: Drums

Fred Walcott: Percussion

Tom Beckham: Vibes

Randy Reinhart: Trumpet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I LOST MY NATURE

CHORUS

I lost my nature and my loved one left me

I lost my nature and my loved one left me

I lost my nature and my loved one left me

Don't lose your nature

I read the testimony 'bout the holy man

Went to the heart of Queens to find this holy man

My health and essence were restored by his holy hands

Saved by the holy man

CHORUS

Don't be a slave to pain

Its loss will be your gain

Take car or bus or train...

I lost my nature and my loved one left me

A poison in the blood had come upon me

They gave me weeks to live and pills to calm me

But then the holy man with just his palm he

Brought back my nature

CHORUS

No need to bear such pain

Its loss will clear your brain

Take car or bus or train...

I lost my nature and my loved one left me

I was a drunkard with a hatred for the world

I just kept drinking till the barroom spun and swirled

I'd lost my nature and I could not love this world

Now I love the world

CHORUS 2x

Kelly Flint: Vocal

David Cantor: Guitar

Jeff Eyrich: Bass, Background Vocal

Jon Dryden: Organ

Rich Zukor: Drums

Fred Walcott: Bongos

Larry Siegel: Maracas

Bernhard Ullrich: Tenor Sax

Tom Beckham: Vibes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KISS ME QUICK

I've had kisses from the best

And all the rest, except from you

No time for tricks, just kiss me quick

Let's see what you can do

I've had kisses hot and cold

Shy and bold, they did not do

So kiss me quick and make it stick

And I will stick with you

I'm done messing

With every pair of lips in town

And I'm guessing

You kiss me right, I'll come around

I've had kisses make me blue

Give me flu, taste like glue

So kiss me quick...etc.

You've been moping

Because I seem to get around

Well stop your moping

Just kiss me right, I'll settle down

And though I've learned 

A trick or two

Your lips should teach me something new

So kiss me quick...etc.

Kelly Flint: Vocal

David Cantor: Guitar

Jeff Eyrich: Bass

Jon Dryden: Piano

Rich Zukor: Drums, Percussion

Bernhard Ullrich: Saxes, Clarinet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SANDMAN

I've been waiting for the Sandman

I've been tossing all night

I've been waiting for the Sandman

But he's nowhere in sight

He's sprinkled his dream-dust all over the town

And everybody else is sleeping cozy and sound

I've been waiting for the Sandman

But he won't come around

Don't know why I think about you

It's too hard to explain

Wish I didn't think about you

Guess you're stuck in my brain

I can picture you sleeping all snuggled and tight

But what are these dreams that keep you smiling all night

I've been waiting for the Sandman

But he hasn't arrived

Close my eyes

And I could wear a million different faces

I could be a bird in flight

I could be the boy whose wings have melted

I keep waiting for the Sandman

He continues to hide

I keep waiting for the Sandman

Seems he's taken your side

Sleep is a place he doesn't want me to go

'Cause sleep would bring a peace he doesn't want me to know

I've been waiting for the Sandman

But the Sandman won't show...

Kelly Flint: Vocal

David Cantor: Guitar

Jeff Eyrich: Bass

Rich Zukor: Drums, Bongos, Shakers

Bernhard Ullrich: Tenor Sax

J. Walter Hawkes: Trombone

Lalo: Vibes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SEX WTIHOUT BODIES 

I was watching this movie

On my VCR

The things they were doing

Just a little bizarre

The expression of passion

Amid sweat and chlorine

They were five of the happiest people

That I've ever seen

Sex without bodies

Sex without pain

Sex of such passion

No mere words could explain

It's the incoming fashion

It's an oncoming train

I may never go back to the reall thing again

I called up this number

This girl Angela spoke

She started to whimper

I started to choke

Before it was over

I called out her name

And you may not believe this

But she did the same

Sex without bodies

Sex without blame

Sex on the wire 

Between shadow and shame

It's the fear of desire 

It's the fire without flame

I may never go back to the reall thing again

I met this guy Carlos

He took me upstairs

He sat me in one one one

Of two comfortable chairs

He sat in the other

So cool and contained

And the rest of the evening

This is how we remained

Having sex without bodies

Sex without hate

Sex in this city

Has become a garrison state

I don't care if she's pretty

I don't care if he ain't

I may never go back to the reall thing again

I may never go back to the reall thing again

We may never go back to the reall thing again

(c) David Cantor

 

 

 

 

 

 

SMALL BLACK HEART

We've done our time

There's nothing left to mend

It's no big crime

It's just the way things end

So despite the mauling 

It won't be falling apart

It's such a small black heart

It's not assault 

It's not like Rome was burned 

It's not your fault 

No need to be concerned 

Forget the soft shoe dance 

'Cause there was no real chance from the start 

For such a small black heart

Yet I must assert It wasn't always so 

But with each new hurt

The smaller it would grow

Till, black from blue

It turned into this scarred and tiny ball

That hangs on just for spite

And, barely then

And barely then...

So save your breath

It's not as if you lied

It's not quite death 

It’s just a thing that's died 

Now every wound you nurse 

Inflicts a pain far worse than the smart 

From such a small black heart...

Kelly Flint: Vocal

David Cantor: Guitar

Jeff Eyrich: Bass

Jon Dryden: Piano

Rich Zukor: Drums

Bernhard Ullrich: Tenor Sax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STILL SHE KNOWS

There's a tune by Bach

Running through her head

There's a half moon clock

Frozen by the bed

It just needs a spring or two

There's a knot in time

That she can't undo

Still she knows she hasn't lost you

There's a telephone

From the Hotel Pontchartrain

There's a piece of bone

On a fourteen carat chain

From a boy that she once knew

And her mother's eyes

Which she wears like new

Still she knows that she hasn't lost you

Still she knows…

Still she knows…

Still she knows…

Like a work of art

That she did not plan

Like the human heart

Beating in her hand

Such a dazzling shade of blue

There's a life she's lived

That she can't undo

Still she knows that she hasn't lost you

Still she knows that she hasn't lost you

Kelly Flint: Vocal

David Cantor: Guitar

Jeff Eyrich: Bass

Jon Dryden: Electric Piano

Roger Bruno: Accordion

Rich Zukor: Drums

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE WORLD IN WHICH WE LIVE

It's getting smaller so they say

The world in which we live today

It's getting small in every way

The world in which we live today

When the wind blows through Nepal

Strange but I don't feel it sting

When it burns in the Transvaal

Strange but I feel nothing

CHORUS

Strike the bells of Notre Dame

Strange but I don't hear them ring

Come the rains of Vietnam

Strange but I feel nothing

Like a pearl

Lost in the interstellar dark

Spins the world

Aglow with an inner spark

Boy and girl

Grateful they get to play a part

Seize the world

And then gently crush it to their hearts

CHORUS

Like a pearl

Lost in the interstellar night

Spins the world

Aglow with an inner light

Boy and girl

Grateful we get to play a part

Seize the world

And then gently crush it to our hearts

CHORUS 2x

Kelly Flint: Vocal

David Cantor: Guitar

Jeff Eyrich: Bass, Background Vocal

Jon Dryden: Piano

Richard Crooks: Drums

Fred Walcott: Percussion

Bernhard Ullrich: Tenor Sax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WHO WOULD GUESS

While shadows dance like lovers on the wall

Our fingers seek

We barely speak

The strangeness of it all

And if a million other girls

Have done the things we do

CHORUS:

Who would guess

Who would guess

It's our time

May seem a bit ridiculous to say

But with each breath

A little death

That takes my breath away

And if a million other girls

Have done these same things too

CHORUS

A day or two

And we'd have never met

How lucky can you get

Won't try to pass this off as deeper truth

Can't chalk this up to destiny

Or wild and reckless youth

And if a million other girls

Have said these same words too

CHORUS 2x

Kelly Flint: Vocal

David Cantor: Guitar

Jeff Eyrich: Bass

Jon Dryden: Electric Piano

Roger Bruno: Accordion, Shakers

Lalo: Vibes

Rich Zukor: Drums, Bongos

Bernhard Ullrich: Tenor Sax