Rock Spectacle

Words by Steven Page & Ed Robertson
Music by Ed Robertson

I look straight in the window, try not to look below
Pretend I'm not up here, try counting sheep
But the sheep seem to shower off this office tower
Nine-point-eight straight down I can't stop my knees.

Chorus:
I wish I could fly
From this building, from this wall
And if I should try,
would you catch me if I fall?

My hands clench the squeegee, my secular rosary
Hang on to your wallet, hang on to your rings
Can't look below me, or something might throw me
Curse at the windstorms that October brings.

I look in the boardroom; a modern pharaoh's tomb
I'd gladly swap places, if they care to dive
They're lined up at the window, peer down into limbo
They're frightened of jumping, in case they survive.

I wish I could step from this scaffold
onto soft green pastures, shopping malls, or bed
With my family and my pastor and my grandfather who's Dead

Look straight in the mirror, watch it come clearer
I look like a painter, behind all the grease
But paintings creating, and I'm just erasing
A crystal-clear canvas is my masterpiece

Chorus

The girl works at the store sweet Jane St. Clair
Was dazzled by her smile while I shopped there
it wasn't long before I lived with her
I sang her songs while she dyed her hair

Chorus:
Jane, divided, but I can't decide what side I'm on
Jane decided only cowards stay, while traitors run
Jane, Jane

I'd bring her gold and frankincense and myrrh
She thought that I was making fun of her
She made me feel I was fourteen again
That's why she thinks it's cooler if we'd just stay friends
Jane doesn't think a man could ever be faithful
Jane isn't giving me a chance to be shameful
Jane, Jane
I wrote a letter, she should have got it yesterday
That life could be better by being together
is what I cannot explain to Jane
The girl works at the store, sweet Jane St. Clair
Was dazzled by her smile while I shoplift there
No promises as vague as Heaven
No Juliana next to my Evan
Jane, desired by the people at the school and work
Jane is tired, 'cause every man becomes a lovesick jerk
Jane, Jane

A friend brought me flowers, she said they were lilacs
But I've never been good with plants
Her next presentation, a new dictionary
She'd circled the word "romance"
So enthusiastic, a little bit drastic
I shaved her name in my head
And as she beheld it, she said I misspelled it;
Need more be said!

Chorus:
These apples are delicious!
"As a matter of fact they are," she said
Can all this fruit be free?

She wrote me a letter as big as a phonebook
I've never been big on mail
I sent her a postcard from somewhere near Lethebridge
And wondered if it still went by rail
I've never been frightened of being enlightened
But some things can go too far
Though sometimes I stammer and mix up my grammar,
You get what my meanings are

Chorus

I'm not trying to sing a love song -- I'm trying to sing in tune.
I know I am sometimes headstrong
Falling love, catching fire -- I want to be consumed
Wondering will I ever tire, will I ever tire!

Chorus

Words by Steven Page
Music by Steven Page & Ed Robertson

When I was born, they looked at me and said,
'What a good boy, what a smart boy, what a strong boy.'
And when you were born, they looked at you and said,
'What a good girl, what a what a smart girl, what a pretty girl.'

We've got these chains that hang around our necks
people want to strangle us with them before we take our first breath.
Afraid of change, afraid of staying the same,
when temptation calls, we just look away.

Chorus
This name is the hairshirt I wear
and this hairshirt is woven from your brown hair.
This song is the cross that I bear,
bear it with me, bear with me, bear with me, be with me tonight,
I know that it isn't right, but be with me tonight.

I go to school, I write exams,
if I pass, if I fail, if I drop out,
does anyone give a damn?
And if they do, they'll soon forget 'cause it won't take much for me
to show my life ain't over yet.
I wake up scared, I wake up strange.
I wake up wondering if anything in my life is ever going to change.
I wake up scared, I wake up strange
and everything around me stays the same.

Chorus

I couldn't tell you that I was wrong,
chickened out, grabbed a pen and paper, sat down and I wrote this song.
I couldn't tell you that you were right,
so instead I looked in the mirror,
watched TV, laid away all night.

We've got these chains, hang 'round our necks,
people want to strangle us with them before we take our first breath.
Afraid of change, afraid of staying the same when temptation calls ...

Chorus

When I was born, they looked at me and said;
'What a good boy, what a smart boy, what a strong boy.'
And when you were born, they looked at you and said;
'What a good girl, what a smart girl, what a pretty girl, hey'

Words & Music by Steven Page

The bravest thing I've ever done
Was to run away and hide
But not this time, not this time
And the weakest thing I've ever done
Was to stay right by your side
Just like this time, and every time
I couldn't tell you I was happy when you were gone
So I lied and said that I missed you when we were apart.
I couldn't tell you, so I had to lead you on
But I didn't mean to break your heart.

And if I always seem distracted
Like my minds somewhere else,
That's because it's true, yes it's true
it's this stupid pride that makes me feel
Like I have to follow through
Even half-assedly, loving you
Why must I always speak in terms of cowardice?
When I guess I should have just come out and told you right from the start
Why must I always tell you all I want is this?
I guess 'cause I didn't want to break your heart

And you said;
'What'd you think that I was gonna do,
Curl up and die just because of you?
I'm not that weak, you know
What'd you think that I was gonna do,
Try to make you love me as much as I love you?
how could you be so low?
You arrogant man,
What do you think that I am?
My heart will be fine
Just stop wasting my time'

And now I know that you will be okay, and that I
got what I want and that's rid of you
Good bye
And it's not cause I'll be missing you
That makes me fall apart
it's just that I didn't mean to break
No I didn't mean to break
No I didn't mean to break
Your heart

When she was three
Her barbies always did it on the first date
Now she's with me,
There's never any need for them to demonstrate
She's like a baby, I'm like a cat;
When we are happy, we both get fat and still
it's never enough, it's never enough,
it's never enough

Chorus:
But I don't tend to worry about the things that other people say,
And I'm learning that I wouldn't want it any other way
Call me crazy, but it really doesn't matter
All that matters to me is she

Her life, in a nutshell
No way would she want it to change me
it's not that easy 'cause
My time is often decided for me
For me

She memorized every pencil crayon colour in the box
Her blue-green eyes complement the burn sienna in her locks
She's at the movies, I'm on the phone;
When we're separated, we're never alone, but still
it's never enough, it's never enough,
No it's never enough

Chorus

I fell down
With no one there to catch me from falling
Then she came 'round
And only her tenderness stopped me from bawling my eyes out
I'm OK
And that's why
Her life, in a nutshell ...

Words & music by steven page & ed robertson

I tend the wheat field that makes your bread.
I bind the sweet veal, pluck the hens that make your bed.
Mother nature & mother earth
Are two of three women who dictate what i'm worth

Chorus:
I'm the farmer.
I work in the fields all day.
Don't mean to alarm her,
But i know it was meant to be this way.

You cried a tear, i wiped it dry
I put you up upon a pedestal so high
If you should waiver, if you should sway
I'd catch you, spread my tiny wings and fly away.
You signed your picture with an o and x
I bet you don't write "love" each time you sign your cheques.

Chorus

All of this corn i grow i grow it all for you
I took a hatchet to the radio i did it all for you
You could have written back,
You could have said "thank you"
I guess you've got better things,
Better things to do.

You say you love me, is that the truth?
Although they've heard the songs, my friends want living proof.
I know your address, i ring the bell
I bring you flowers and a .22 with shells.

I'm the farmer
I work in the fields all day
Never wanted to harm her
But i know it was meant to be this way.