Jim Cuddy – Skyscraper Soul
Warner Music Canada
2011
Release Date
September 27, 2011
Produced By
Jim Cuddy, Colin Cripps, Chris Shreenan-Dyck
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1Skyscraper Soul5:02Everyone knows it, try not to show it,
This city can bring you down
I’m a believer some days are hard, but
I couldn’t leave this town
I got a skyscraper soul
Like a flower that comes where the sun never goes
Skyscraper soul
Filling my heart where there once was a hole
Look out my window
Watching the sun go down
On the crowds below
I know the struggle,
Weaving through trouble
Life can be hard, I know
I got a skyscraper soul
There’s mud in my veins and there’s steel in my bones
Skyscraper soul
Building it all up from water and stones
Look through the market stalls
Over broken walls
To this hollowed ground
Looks are deceiving
There’s a heart beating
Here in this battered town
Cause I got a skyscraper soul
Like a flower that comes where the sun never goes
Skyscraper soul
Filling it all up with water and stones
I’ve got a skyscraper soul
There’s mud in my veins and there’s steel in my bones
Skyscraper soul
Brushing the rust off and losing control -
2Regular Days3:55Up all night and you come here barely alive
Move on in real close and just let me drive
Outside the window the sun’s gone down
Night so calm not a soul around
We’ve got reason to fly away
Even if ends up being for a single day
You just sleep, don’t worry we’ll get there soon
I’ll turn off the dashboard lights and follow the moon
Got some money and a case of wine
I brought you clothes and I hope they’re fine
Nighttime’s a mystery we need to explore
Lying in a bed of a suite that we can barely afford
I know it always seems to come to this
You and me making up for the time we miss
But I can feel all our worries fading away
What can I say, for us there’s no regular days
No regular days
The day that we first met you were very young
So when I climbed up into your room you were pretty stunned
You said it’s fun but your head was clear
Things like this never last all year
Sure seems funny as time goes on
Guess you read the future, but honey you just read it wrong
I know it always seems to come to this
You and me making up for the time we miss
But I can feel all our worries fading away
What can I say, for us there’s no regular days
No regular days -
3Everyone Watched The Wedding5:32Sister’s got her baby now and I’m glad for what she did
But her older one’s in trouble, man I really love that kid
Maybe he could live here, for us it would be nice
He needs some time to grow up, needs a father in his life
Me I guess I’m lucky, mine have almost grown
It’s amazing what they turn into from a seed that we have sown
I remember nights just lying there, worrying a while
I look across the room now, and I see them and I smile
All we ever want at night’s our families to be safe
So we hold their hands and pick them up until they take their place
We know that there’s no promises, no no guarantees
So we pray and pray and pray at night whatever will be will be
Oh look at it coming down, making a mess of this whole town
And I think that I know why
Everyone watched the wedding, two people in love
Two people whose blessing comes from higher up above
They’re not like you and me, they were destined to be
Oh everyone watched the wedding, couldn’t get enough
At least for one moment we were right there up above
Looking down on all the royal fuss Monday we were back upon the bus
Driving through the neighbourhoods and factories that are us
That one day, hope was all that we could see
And they looked so beautiful to me
Hope was all that we could see
And they looked so beautiful to me
Oh sister I am tapped out, this month is really bad
Can you hold on through May and then I’ll give you what I have
Everything is going up, business going down
I’ve been through this so many times it always comes around
My brother he’s a charmer, a snake with a silver tongue
Sometimes he up and disappears and we don’t know where he’s gone
My mother she’s a fighter, always made her way
She can’t believe she worries about us all to this day
Me I just keep going, guess that I’ll be fine
But I can’t believe I keep my head above the waterline
Some people round here want to get rich and run away
That’s not for me no, I’ve got so many reasons to stay
Oh look at it coming down, making a mess of this damn town
And I think that I know why
Everyone watched the wedding, two people in love
Two people whose blessing comes from higher up above
They’re not like you and me, they were destined to be
Oh everyone watched the wedding, couldn’t get enough
At least for one moment we were right there up above
Looking down on all the royal fuss Monday we were back upon the bus
Driving through the neighbourhoods and factories that are us
That knowing all our lives will never be
But they looked so beautiful to me
All our lives will never be
But they looked so beautiful to me -
4Still Want You4:31Well I took my car to find you
Drove down every lane
Looked in all the backyards
Then I went back through again
Then I took a Greyhound
Headed way out West
I found some friends who knew you
But they told me you had already left
Oh why do I need you so
Like a cop needs a crime
Well I’ve practiced in the mirror
Saying things to make my mind go clear
Prayed until my knees were black and blue
And if love is a cut well it’s one that never seems to shut
Comes up every morning like it’s new
And I still want you
Remember when we travelled up
To see the Arctic sun
Stopped to buy you cigarettes
Came back and you were gone
Then I had to follow
A trail of unpaid bills
You maxed out all my credit cards
And took all of the money from my till
Oh why do I need you so
Like a drowning man needs a line
Well I’m burning with desire
Standing way too close to every fire
I know I’ll pay the price when it comes due
And no matter how I try resolutions fall in record time
Thoughts of your sweet smile coming through
And I still want you
Oh why do I need you so
Like a drunk needs wine
Well there’s grey skies behind me
Thunder up ahead
I’m hooked on this sensation
And I’m easily misled
And if I ever find you
I hope I will someday
I won’t waste time on clever lines
Just smile at you and then I’ll walk away
Oh why do I need you so
Like a dying man needs time
Well I’ve practiced in the mirror
Saying things to make my mind go clear
Prayed until my knees were black and blue
And if love is a cut well it’s one that never seems to shut
Comes up every morning like it’s new
And I still want you
And I still want you -
5Wash Me Down4:51Last Friday they had a masquerade
Everyone was there
All decked out in stars and silver
Moonlight in their hair
Darkness fell down around us
We were lost in the mystery
Left our clothes by the side of the road
And jumped into the sea
Wash me down
Wash me down
Take me away from the beating drums
Let the great world go by
Wash me down
Wash me down
And when you go
I will never forget
I heard a rumour ‘bout a miracle
In a town by the Buffalo Leap
People came from miles around
To watch the statue weep
They filled the square with their caravans
Cameras lit up the trees
Every time a light went off
They fell down to their knees
Wash me down
Wash me down
Take me away from the beating drums
Let the great world go by
Wash me down
Wash me down
And when you go
I will never forget
I swear I’ve seen your face before
Somewhere when I was young
You make me feel the miles I’ve walked
The things I’ve left undone
Come here and lay beside me
One more hour, that’s all
When you leave I’ll close the door
Maybe then I’ll fall
Wash me down
Wash me down
Take me away from the burning sun
Let the great world go by
Wash me down
Wash me down
And when you go
I will never forget
And when you go
I will never forget -
6Watch Yourself Go Down5:33There’s a fork in the road, but you never take it
Always go the same way home
It’s 6 o’clock so you’re medicated
Easy when you’re living alone
And all the girls who come and go
They whisper in your ear “oh baby you know”
“Oh baby you know”
This town’s got a crooked grin
You know it’s got a cold, cold heart
Came here thinking it was yours to win
But you’re dead before you even start
And all the friends who understood you
Smile and shake your hand saying “really we should”
“Really we should”
And you dream, dream of better days
And it seems they’re moving far away
But you can’t ever stop
You keep climbing for the top
Till the wind comes and blows you away
You’re gonna watch yourself go down
You’re gonna watch yourself go down
You’re gonna watch yourself go down
Down, down, down
When you were a kid the world was waiting
You were everybody’s favourite son
But now you wake up in a room where the light is fading
I think you’re finally catching on
And all the days they fly just like
People in your life who’re passing you by
Passing you by
And you dream, dream of better days
And it seems they’re moving far away
But you can’t ever stop
You keep climbing for the top
Till the wind comes and blows you away
You’re gonna watch yourself go down
You’re gonna watch yourself go down
You’re gonna watch yourself go down
Down, down, down -
7Don't Know That Much1:48Oh, they don’t know that much about us now do they
Slow down let your feelings go
No point letting other people run the show
Oh, they don’t know that much about us now do they
Close your eyes let the wind blow through your hair
There’s no need for you to get so scared
Oh, they don’t know that much about us now do they
Oh, they don’t know that much about us now do they -
8Banks of The 495:12Sometimes I lie awake and I wonder how you’re doing
It’s been a long time since we spoke
Last time I was there you had music in the air
We listened till the stereo broke
I told you I believed you it’s not really true
I only want to see you come alive
Winter’s come and gone and there’s flowers on the lawn
I miss you coming up my drive
You’d tell me different if I ever lost my way
You’d tell me different if I needed somewhere to stay
You’d tell me all the things I needed to hear and never could
And you’d always be careful and kind
If you want to know what’s on my mind
Let me be some help to you this time
If you want to wake up in the morning and throw roses in the rain
Cry yourself to sleep at night and practice your pain
If you want to know what’s on my mind
Come on up and see me I’ve been waiting for you all this time
Up here the days last forever it seems
The sunlight caresses your face
You can hear the dogs howling at night
You’ll think you’re in the holiest place
I’ve always played it careful now maybe I was wrong
I think of you as fragile and young
I have seen the darkness come over your face
Felt the poison of your tongue
You’d tell me different if I tried to hide away
You’d tell me different if you had something to say
You’d tell me all the things I needed to hear and never could
And you’d always be careful and kind
If you want to know what’s on my mind
Let me be some help to you this time
If you want to wake up in the morning and throw roses in the rain
Cry yourself to sleep at night and practice your pain
If you want to know what’s on my mind
Come on up and see me I’ve been waiting for you all this time
Lately there’s something disturbing my sleep
I dream about you almost every night
You’re alone in your place and there’s a look on your face
I don’t know if it is anger or fright
All that I can tell you is I’m waiting to hear
You know that I am faithful to a flaw
When you change your mind and you step outside
Hope I’ll be the one you call
If you want to know what’s on my mind
Let me be some help to you this time
If you want to wake up in the morning and throw roses in the rain
Cry yourself to sleep at night and practice your pain
If you want to know what’s on my mind
Look over your shoulder I won’t be far behind
Come on up and see me on the banks of the 49 -
9What Is So Wrong4:36Whatever became of the one that we knew
When did heartless raven ever become you
Pictures on my mantle they’re gonna go too
Cause you never even noticed the world gone by
Could be gone in the blink of an eye
What is so wrong, what is so wrong
You gotta admit that it’s funny the mess that we made
Maybe we could have fixed it, but there was nothing to save
I could walk right down there, but I’m not that brave
No, you never even noticed the world gone by
Could be gone in the blink of an eye
What is so wrong, what is so wrong
Something turned me away that’s true
Could be something about me or you
What is so wrong, what is so wrong
There’s a place on the corner where we used to go
You could drink with the poets and then sleep through the show
Everybody’s gone now so you can never go home
No, you never even noticed the world gone by
Could be gone in the blink of an eye
What is so wrong, what is so wrong
Something turned me away that’s true
Could be something about me or you
What is so wrong, what is so wrong
You never even noticed the world
Never noticed the world
What is so wrong, what is so wrong
Could be something about me
Could be something about you
What is so wrong, what is so wrong -
10Ready To Fall4:43Guess that I was wrong
I know I played along
And let the little things go by
Like the look in your eye
You loved me too much
Then you loved me just enough
To keep me coming back for more
Wondering what this game is for
I’m mad about you
I just couldn’t read the writing on the wall
Surely you could see that
This time I was ready to fall
I’ll go one by one
Through everything we’ve done
And all the places we have been
And we’ll never go again
I’m mad about you
I just couldn’t read the writing on the wall
Surely you could see that
This time I was ready to fall
I’m lost around you
We never looked at things the same at all
It’s always gonna be there
This time I was ready to fall
Why weren’t you
You told me there was time now
Hold on and go slow
It’s way too late for that now
I’ve already let go
Now I can’t believe it’s true
That you can’t hear my heart beating when I’m looking at you
So now we let it go
Pretending it was fate and we were never in control
But I think we’ll always know
I’m mad about you
I just couldn’t read the writing on the wall
Surely you could see that
This time I was ready to fall
I’m lost around you
I never looked at things the same at all
It’s always gonna be there
This time I was ready to fall
Why weren’t you -
11Water's Running High4:24Mama, mama, mama, can you see the water is running high
Mama, mama, mama, oh, the water is running high
And you just keep on wondering now
How in the world are you going to keep all your little babies dry -
12How In The World3:41Just in time the morning came
Stopped my mind from dreaming
And I tried to sweep the night away
Stepped out on ice cold floor
Sun was hazy, sky was grey
I thought of how we used to be
Just two together wasting time
Not needing any more
And I’m losing my way
And I feel wasting all my days
How in the world gonna make my way on through
I’m walking around in a world that’s shades of blue
Shades of blue
Dropped you at the airport line
We cried a little, said goodbye
Winter, spring, and summer nights
Not so long for us to wait
I hope you made your plane on time
I know your parts will all go fine
It’s not that I can’t see you shine
It’s changes that I hate
And your face lingers on
When I wake, wonder where you’re gone
How in the world gonna make my way on through
I’m walking around in a world that’s shades of blue
Shades of blue
And I feel wasting all my days
But I’m true in my way
How in the world gonna make my way on through
I’m walking around in a world that’s shades of blue
How in the world gonna make my way on through
How in the world gonna make my way without you
Without you -
13City Birds (Instrumental)2:05
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14With You5:03I’m sitting by the window with the echoes in my ears
Your footsteps walking down the hall
Maybe there were words that could have dried up all our tears
I couldn’t find them at all
I’ve made up my mind I can’t do this anymore
Can’t watch the damage we do
I’ve wandered so long wondering where I might belong
Cause I know it’s not here with you
So sweep me away like the wind blows the leaves
Just like the seasons gone by
I’m not one of those who can easily go
I need to know you’ll be fine
I’ve made up my mind I can’t do this anymore
Can’t watch the damage we do
I’ve wandered so long wondering where I might belong
Cause I know it’s not here with you
I’ve made up my mind I can’t do this anymore
Not after all we’ve been through
I can’t risk any more time and it’s always on my mind
I know it’s not here with you
I’ve mixed up all the memories of the things that we have done
Can’t quite believe them anymore
And I’m stunned by the beauty of you standing across the room
Even as I’m closing the door
I’ve made up my mind I can’t do this anymore
Can’t watch the damage we do
I have wandered so long wondering where I might belong
Cause I know it’s not here with you
I’ve made up my mind I can’t do this anymore
Not after all we’ve been through
I can’t risk any more time and it’s always on my mind
But I know it’s not here with you