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Parting Bead

by Noble Lake

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1.
If you don't have a home, you can shiver and cry and the wind is always blowing you'll never win most battles let alone the war that's going and come evening time we'll walk the streets and roll in the arms of strangers the world is wide and all around is temptation and danger but someday we'll crack that diamond mine and the days will run like water living high on the hog at the end of an age we can laugh as we're turning the corner but there'll be hell to pay for simply hauling up the morning there will be dandelions and fingers crossed but the path it won't be easy when you fix your gaze up on the summit of the mountain so many years without a map a million miles and counting and marianna's room was warm and I slept there many an evening she's a vision, a lark on a movie screen lying there still and dreaming and sharing a smoke at the windowsill gives you time to think and wonder why, oh why do we roll out in thunder and disorder? give glory to god and the wind of the world and praise for being foolish the radio's just static, in a moment it will all be dead and gone
2.
In the old Abbey Hotel In a room that I know all too well You pay by the hour, the week or the day And the evenings keep slipping away Yes the evenings keep slipping away Well it's raining tonight and I'm long overdue for some sleep that won't never come round and I'm whistling down trains on the fire escape and the sky is falling on down and I'm burning a hole in the ground and won't somebody call or inquire about me at the front desk one of these days? Just remind me of my good name My name is Tony Alphonso Lorraine Well the lights are all dim in the hallway And the sink makes a gurgling sound Things that don't work always interested me And I've always been sneakin' around Yes I've always been sneakin' around and any malt liquor will do for L.B. but I'm tired of hearing him talk and I'll go for hours in room ten with all of them and sometimes with Marie down the hall Hell, I've come this far why not blow it all? 'cuz my woman don't need me and she don't even return my phone calls at all but it's all the same when you're high on cocaine My name is Tony Alphonso Lorraine My name is Tony Alphonso Lorraine
3.
I know this world gives you problems I know we're getting older every day But don't let it get you down things are bound to come around There's got to be some easier way 'Cause sometimes I live in the city And sometimes in another place in time Where tall trees cast a gleaming shadow That's always on my mind (chorus) And the old world may be gone And some of our dreams passed on But the brightest side of life is for the ones who've been forgotten And we're following a Rose of the Winds Following a Rose of the Winds So long, farewell and how I'll miss you I know there will be brighter days to come Parting takes its toll and we'll be hungry down the road and it's that appetite we'll have to feed upon But sometimes there's food on the table And so many voices around And sometimes the table is firewood And the whiskey ain't watered down (chorus)
4.
Well the times are getting leaner in this idle land and I'm shooting holes in everything I know Tell the truth I think I'm sittin' on a losing hand and I'm going where the wind don't blow And it's won't you lend me money just this one more time you know that I'll do right by you this time Gonna make this final wager and I'll make it mine or else you might not hear from me again I'll be leaving when the snow melts in the spring It's that old familiar feeling in the wings Sweet rose of eden or the coals of hell some men can't see the world no other way (chorus) And the days pass by in a flash of light swirlin' in a shot glass clean and bright And it's easy when you're young to lay in waiting for the sun until the winter of another year is gone Red is the river in the evening sun lying there, thinking on someone Clean as the water by the lilies and reeds there's a lady that I've come round here to see She's as brave and as graceful as the land where she resides and I'll stay as long as she'll be at my side But I was second fiddle once the wind was blowin' strong and bitter, once again And now I'm up the river in the freezing cold and if there's solace in this world I'll never know
5.
I was young, dumb and petrified And w/o years behind me I was hindered by my pride On the shores/and the cities I pass by I would ply my cunning, I would ply my trade In the sweet, murky blue meander I would play the demon I would play naive and when it comes time for me to answer for misgivings, I'll be gone a mile, I'll be gone a year And when I die, at least I know that I'll be satisfied I'll be wise enough before she catches up with me (chorus) And I'll be riding on mercy And I'll be coming around And I'll be countin' my money until that good ship comes around Never get tired of living this life I love And there's a silver chord stretched down from the heavens up above And if they ever catch me put a gun right to my head Draw a line, drawn out in the sand and I would test my courage until I'm too fucked up to stand And just last week, I went on a bender held a magic marker in my pocket I went blank And on 12th st the tellers they are easy gave me all the money and I ran out in the street And I got so high, standin', starin' out thru the window I believe in phantoms, I know I'm gonna die And if it's the law or some other spectre's hand I see the bastards coming out of every white sedan And I'll be riding on mercy.......
6.
Well the old haunts ain't the same since you left town and I miss you hanging round from time to time I've found Are you happy on the shores of that dry land? In the sun and on the sand? 'cause I could use some company or just a guiding hand But all I got is a looming history Of troubled thoughts and crying eyes to see out of windows on the pisspoor side of town Boarded up and rubble bound And I know what's coming down (chorus) When the harbor lights a beacon on the sea Will the saints deliver me into the lap of luxury? 'cause in my mind it's always gold and evergreen But nothin' ever works the way I plan these days it seems Well I wish I could steer clear of you somehow Mend my ways and settle down But I'm restless and unbound and darlin' all I ever want is time with you by my side and there's no use in trying to stem the turning of the tide 'Though it seems you have a waning sympathy for troubled minds and rakish men like me And it's a heart attack to feel as though disowned And I'll clamor, piss and moan until I'm sinking like a stone But when the harbor lights a beacon on the sea....
7.
Time and Fortune cut down to the bone Grind you like an old millstone And the welfare of friends, fare the well fade and scatter But I hope that I'll be seeing you again Standing clear of the shadows we pretend Might further our defenses in the end Standing tall in the clear light of day With the country that we quit behind a ways.. In the passing of the days are you with me? Staring from a window on a train? As the cities pull away Can you try and pry your gaze? And stare out on the forward plain? All the records scratched and spent All the letters never sent And the photos pale and overexposed Be they pieces of a well-worn compass rose But where they lead us know one rightly knows Days of love and rage on down the road If we ride out to the end Do you know what might portend? Staring at the circles round the sun In the passing of the days are you with me.....
8.
Reavers 05:50
I was left with some narcotics from a grievous injury on the shoreline of another distant sea And now I am alive and with nothing left but time often a bell will ring to jar my memory The city lights and scenes don't seem familiar anymore And ever blast and rattle shakes my skin Pretty girls walk by me and I'm miles away I'm haunted by the places that I've been And you can break my body out along the rocks Take me to a place along the shore Where nobody wanders and I can lay my head Now reavers are running on the shores of a land Unwelcome and in demand And reavers are coming back home unhinged God willing, the tide has turned And I'm in a fix I'm damned I'm ready It's only a matter of time Heads are gonna role like some tale from the Bible And I'll hide out on the high line And you can break my body out along the rocks Take me to a place along the shore Where nobody wanders and I can lay my head
9.
If I leave this earthly body years before I'm due would you stay up weeping for me? would your love for me remain true? and if the whiskey took me to an early grave 'neath the trestle on some bygone creek? or if I was weak and lonely, and cast along the dark side of the street... no one would blame the water that carried my body away no one would blame the seasons for wearing down on an old oak tree and just like the last ray of warm sunshine when I die I know I'll live again and if love is ever changing and given strong lungs to breathe don't begrudge the cause of my leaving don't you carry no burden or shame and if ever you should seek to find me again in the distance, on the lay of the land you can look for me out on the highest cliff by the swell of the sea so grand no one would blame the water that carried my body away no one would blame the seasons for wearing down on an old oak tree and just like the last ray of warm sunshine when I die I know I'll live again

about

Parting Bead is the 2nd full length from Noble Lake.

Recorded Summer 2009 at Beat Babies Studios
Woodstock, Md
Recording and Mixing Engineers:
Chris Freeland and Mickey Freeland
jadedrobot@hotmail.com

Cover Art by Kathy Fahey
www.2hawks2fishes.com

Contact
noblelakemusic@gmail.com

credits

released June 16, 2011

James Sarsgard-guitar, banjo, voice
Jenn Wasner-electric and acoustic guitar, harmonium, banjo, vocals
Andy Stack-upright/electric bass, drums
Stephen Condouris-drums
Justin Lucas-melodica, saw, lap steel
Michael Lambright-accordian

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about

Noble Lake Portland, Oregon

Noble Lake was born in 2005 in Baltimore. Took her name from a place in Iowa. Songs written by James Sarsgard, who lays down his head in Portland, Or.

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