We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Dying Waves

by Bowery Boy Blue

/
  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $8 USD  or more

     

1.
Long grey blade of a river, look at all the trouble we're in. Everyone seems to know where we lead and where we've been. I came and found you when I was young on the loving words of a ghost. He pointed out at the great wide open and said, "There she rolls." You were dry and I was weak, but we're both much stronger now. We both know that' just a show for the people, why don't we lay it down. Why don't we lay it down. And the long grey pull of the ocean is draggin' us out with a song. Callin' out to all the little ones, singin', "Brothers it won't be long". And in the waves I can recognize the ways I am much like you. Human hearts can be sailed upon but they can never be understood. Long grey blade of a river I will say goodbye from the hill. I would say that I won't see you again, but I know I will. And you won't say what I know you want, but I know that it's on your mind. Even a river needs a mother's love from time to time. And you won't say what I know you want, but I know that it's on your mind. Even a river needs a mother's love from time to time. From time to time.
2.
Oh my love come and see the devil again, he's fallen in the river like a stone. When you come and take another look in his eyes, he's got nothing but the best in store. When you comin' back to look at my face? When you comin' round from that city you hate? I've been waiting five years to see you again. Come and tell me stories about younger days, and I'll show you were the guns were on the hill. A long time ago the soldiers took them away, now there's nothing but the enemy around. Where can I go when the stars come out? How can I move when I can't see the ground? Why can't you sail from the open to the sound? Living in the time between the light and the sound was easy when I was a younger man. Now the lighting strikes and the thunder rolls in before you have the chance to begin to count out the miles between you and me. Look at me now this is how I will be, standing on the hill lookin' out at the sea. Oh my love come and see the devil again he's fallen in the river like a stone
3.
Dying Waves 03:23
You're gonna photograph well in this dying red light. Sometimes the greatest detail doesn't matter. Looks like your eyes are dying waves. Looks like your swollen eyes are dying waves. I really love what you've done with the color of your skin now I can see to your heart through your bones I cannot tell where you begin and where the swollen night comes to an end. You really cut this town to the underground And then you wash away the stains in your dying waves. I used to sing you a song just to mess with your mind until you sang one to me that was better. I can recall how it was sung from your red lips and your dead tongue. Oh won't you take me down to the underground. Why do you wash me away in your dying waves? Oh won't you take me down to the underground. Why do you wash me away in your dying waves? You're gonna photograph well in this dying red light. Sometimes the greatest detail doesn't matter. Looks like your eyes are dying waves. Looks like your swollen eyes are dying waves.
4.
I really believed you were gonna make it out. I really believed you all along. You pointed across to the great red star and said "It won't be very long." But you ain't goin' nowhere. All you've got is a song Taken down by the mouth of the sea and set to drift alone. Is that the river singin' along? Or is it you? Is it you? All of you words in a pretty little row stolen from the mouth of a man. End of the day you've gotta lay one down even though you'll never understand. That you ain't goin' nowhere. All you've got is a song Taken down by the mouth of the sea and set to drift alone. Is that the river singin' along? Or is it you? Is it you? I really believed you were gonna make it out. I really believed you all along. You stagger across to the great red star as I listen to the ocean's roar. But you ain't goin' nowhere. All you've got is a song Taken down by the mouth of the sea and set to drift alone. Is that the river singin' along? Or is it you? Is it you?
5.
"The sky is on fire!" you yell from afar. The sky is not on fire, it's just a little charred from the great big star. I see a little gold falling through to the snow. Out on the smallest stones, you make a little noise as you come and go. How far you gonna go down this long grey scar? I really think you should now how glad I'm gonna be at this river's dying hour. The sky is not on fire. The sky is not on fire. The sky is not on fire, it just a little charred from the great big star. I see you on the horizon with your face to the star. And your bright red lips are craning at the neck to kiss the great star. But you kiss only sky. And you kiss only rain. And you curse the great star for pulling you this far and you still feel the same. How far you gonna go down this long grey scar? I really think you should now how glad I'm gonna be at this river's dying hour. The sky is not on fire. The sky is not on fire. The sky is not on fire, it just a little charred from the great big star. "The sky is on fire!" you yell from afar. The sky is not on fire, it's just a little charred from the great big star. The sky is not on fire. (It's only a star) The sky is not on fire. (It's only a star) The sky is not on fire, (It's only a star) The sky is not on fire. (It's only a star) The sky is not on fire.
6.
Come on down to the river bank and look at the man that you love. Under the gaze of an unlit moon, I can be what you want. But you can't love me this way. Listen to the great dead song. Kept apart by the river again we can only see what we want. Under the weight of a great red star I can hear your voice through the smog. Sing me the words of an old love song and you can be what I want. But I can't love you this way. Listen to the great dead song. Kept apart the fiery sky we can only hear what we want. The fires 'll come and the birds 'll go as the blade of the river dries up. And we'll sing the song that we used to know about the blade of the river we loved. But we can't love it that way. Listen to the great dead song. Comin' down from the river's edge, we can only feel what we want. Comin' down from the river's edge, we can only feel what we want.
7.
All of the fire lights that carved out your love failed to complete you and they left you quite rough. You've got a hundred pound darkness stuck in your eyes like a gun. And I'm stuck inside your fire-line, humbled like a crystal in the sun. Don't wave your arms because you don't understand. That kind of weight just makes you fall where you stand. So you don't stand for nothin' and nothin' lets you down anymore. You've got a hundred pound darkness that makes you just the man that you are. It's a hundred pound darkness comin' off the fire line comin' round to smother us all. It's a hundred pound darkness comin' off the fire line comin' round to smother us all. Don't blame the sun for that light in your eyes. That ain't a star that's been makin' you blind. And if you don't really know then you're never gonna figure it out. That's a hundred pound darkness that always been draggin' you down. It's a hundred pound darkness comin' off the fire line comin' round to smother us all. It's a hundred pound darkness comin' off the fire line comin' round to smother us all. It's a hundred pound darkness comin' off the fire line comin' round to smother us all.
8.
Anchor me to a lonely day turn your back and I'll blow away. What's it like to see me this way, from above and from below. And set your hands upon my face and fix me with an easy gaze. It's hard for me to feel your embrace, but I'll know when you let go. Oh I'll know when you let go. Oh I'll know when you let go. And wrap your arms around my neck and brace against the icy wind. It's fillin' up my sails again, but I don't wanna go. And hide with me in the crippled pines and point above to the stars that shine. I can't feel your arms in mine but I'll know when you let go. Oh I'll know when you let go. Oh I'll know when you let go. And out beyond the tangled trees I can hear the heavy seas singing out a melody from above and from below. And the moon will creep across your face and wake you from the lonely day. Though I will not leave a trace I'll know when you let go. Oh I'll know when you let go. Oh I'll know when you let go. And though I will not leave a trace I'll know when you let go.
9.
Great Fires 04:59
I saw the great fires burning across the great shore. They left a beautiful darkness when they killed the great star. I'm gonna find out which river heads to the west, and if I escape, you'll never see me again. But I can't leave 'til I find you. Underneath the black sky. You said we'd meet on the horizon, but I can't see it in the night. All I hear are the waves falling into the sky. I can still hear you say, "Come see how it sways - That star is gonna die." I found a gull on the beach. He said he knew where you are. He said he knew how to find you. He said you weren't very far. Then his last brown feather was torn off by the wind he said we must hurry, "I feel the fires closing in." We flew around the great city. All was covered in dust. We asked all who would answer, but you never tuned up. And then the young gull, he turned toward the sky, and he said, "If they ask you, tell 'em goodbye." I saw the great fires burning across the great shore. They left a beautiful darkness when they killed the great star. They left a beautiful darkness when they killed the great star. They left a beautiful darkness.
10.
I saw the lights in your garden aflame as the great gates came a wailin'. That locomotive wasn't loaded with sin, it was empty into the station. They called her Blackfoot, they called her Iron Clad, as the grey guards blew grey smoke into the grey day. It be 9 hours fore they swung that light again, fore they swung that great Blackfoot into the ages. So I watched a girl I knew hold up her frightened hands and say the great god knew just how to make 'em. All of the morningbirds were flying round the steam as they sang a little song with their expressions. Not one among the men was brushing them aside, they just raise their caps and watch the great migration. It be the sun-filled nights before they flew again, and they sang their great, grey song with great affection. Just then a quarry man with shade across his eyes sang the great lord knew just how to make 'em. I saw the Blue Streak gunnin' out of the sun, locomotive of the grey dawn. All of the linemen holdin' up their mighty hands sayin' the great lord knew just how to make 'em. Yeah, the great lord knew just how to make 'em.

about

Recorded by Jake Belser at Primary Sound Studios, a studio built in an Indiana country church, the band was able to set up together in one room and refine and expand upon the arrangements they’d developed together on the road in a space that could truly capture the intricacies of those performances. Additionally, Dying Waves expands on the textural augmentations of its predecessor, Stalk That Myth, with brass arrangements from Michael Kapinus (Magnolia Electric Co.) and string arrangements from Megan Gould (Jenny Scheinman, Lou Reed, Donovan) as well as a panoply of pump organs, percolating synths, tack pianos, live vocal processing, and other such textures. The added warmth of Kate Long (Early Day Miners) on harmony vocals completes this rich sonic landscape.

credits

released June 17, 2014

Zeb Gould – Guitar, Vocals
Sam Crawford – Guitar, Lap Slide, Vocals
Michael Trepagnier – Bass, Vocals
Christian Rutledge – Drums, Guitar

A Very Special Thank You To:
Michael Kapinus – Trumpet
Kate Long – Harmony Vocals
Megan Gould – Violin, String Arrangements

Recorded by Jacob Belser at Primary Sound Studios, Bloomington IN
Mixed by Michael Trepagnier
Mastered by Kevin Lively, Kevin Lively Mastering, Oklahoma City, OK

All Songs © Zeb Gould 2013

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Bowery Boy Blue New York, New York

contact / help

Contact Bowery Boy Blue

Streaming and
Download help

Shipping and returns

Redeem code

Report this album or account

If you like Bowery Boy Blue, you may also like: