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Part of It All

by Guy Russo

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1.
Our grandfathers lost their hearing under perma-grey skies of their own making They never saw past feeding their sons and their daughters A few generations transformed and conquered a world that knew freedom for so many centuries Industry breaks down, erodes just like rocks on the shore Carry me home, dark water Make me a part of it all Fill me with child-like wonder as you reclaim this wall we stand upon There's ghosts in these ancient ruins (oos) You can still smell the smoke from the hearth of the union Just like their coal and steel they melt into the sea Could they have foreseen the end of production, where the great rivers force their redemption, and the bright sun comes back home to turn everything green? How did we ever confuse the disguise we imposed on our world for control? We're at the mercy of the wind and water and stars Now it's absurd and silly to think: I believed I owned my own body As if one day I won’t waste away into the sea
2.
Lost Boy 03:22
Is it only me who feels it in the room Am I the only one “Is there any other like me?” Said the lost boy to himself, in the dark Everyone is so delightful Why do you turn me away from your hearts? How does everybody act like This is what they had in mind And it’ll all be fine Drunk enough to understand But too sober to judge impartially Who their friends might be I’m inviting you in If it’s cold as it seems Take my coat, take my dreams I will share this moment with you Look me straight in the eye So that I can no longer deny I am seen
3.
No One Came 03:10
Are there enough melodies for you? It’s hard for any one bird to shine through Maybe if it’s two and not the same More than one and one bird could sing I’ll leave another card for you Anytime you feel like a sigh You can hold a bloody heart or two Instead of bleeding from your eyes No one came No one came, no one dared to say I’m hurting and I long for the comfort of two fool birds No one came Though they say, not the tune they play It’s really just the wrong time and day No one came Remember what it was before Hapless and alone on the floor We had a fortune at our feet, uncovered when we finally did meet What kind of loyalty is this? No charity or pity we seek We have a million words to say before the payoff of the day Before we try again and waste it (like our time) Let’s find a hideaway cause
4.
Time Away 05:58
You can always take your time away I could never save your kind of way So I'll move slow I'll take my time, if it don't feel right I'll change my direction And you'll move fast You're flying by, leaving all us normal folks behind I don't know what to say You're kind to me Though you know I deserve Your cruelty People always see past what's right in their home [Translation of poem by Ibn Arabi (1165-1240)]: My heart has become capable of every form: it is a pasture for gazelles and a convent for Christian monks, And a temple for idols and the pilgrim's Ka'bah and the tables of the Torah and the book of the Qur'an. I follow the religion of Love: whatever way Love's camels take, that is my religion and my faith.
5.
It's okay you can say that you are really laughing at me I don't take myself that seriously If it means I get to hear the sound it works for me Are you comfortable with where we are again there are no obligations here But I have to say that I don't feel too bad do you? Can we delight in the moment? All that we have to be sure You don't have to be more than just my muse unless you want to be Either way, I'll be glad for what it is and what it's been
6.
Are my thoughts the same as my words would say Can I feel for the other guys Are these things I do for some kind of great review Am I playing another guy It's too late to say, but I'll say that people are dangerous creatures It should be clear by now They don't change, they just wait for someone to come bail them out of the cell they were born in In the upstairs room I was hurting too I saw a face I'd seen before but somehow more I left you alone in the dark with your head in your hands My heart in the sand For what, I can't really say, but anyway
7.
My hands are never really steady But they dance And patiently compose a brand new love song Every morning, to the world at my command They’re strong enough by now to keep the music flowing For one more generation Till I pass along these secrets I am holding In my hands They falter as they shake from time to time For this I’ll do my best to grant forgiveness Just as far as I can stretch this heart of mine If my hands should ever idle May my body fill the sky And after I have gone I hope you’ll celebrate this world With me in mind I’m proud to say I’ve done my work with care And tried to choose a beautiful direction For whatever little push I’ve been allotted In this universe affair
8.
Ella Flies 04:49
ELLA: First morning light and I’ll be dragging you outside You said today could be the day I’d finally fly by myself and though I haven’t slept a wink I’ve never been more wide awake The sun has chased the moon away and left a golden halo over Indiana cloudes Cumulus friends, no threat of rain This will be the perfect day AMANDA: If you must fly, have a marvelous time Keep both your hands on the reins I may not understand This is your thing, little one You are loved every day ELLA: I may be small, but I know where I want to go I can be brave enough to chase the golden eagles Diving over soy fields Puzzled cows and farmers down below My father taught me everything I’ve watched him do it all a thousand times Steering, landing, choosing the right aperture And if I feel afraid I’ll sing my mother’s song JON: Riding the thermals, Ella’s got the eye Earthy and sky, her mother and father but the wind is her lullabye ELLA: The gap between the sun and the horizon’s getting narrow So it’s time to ease her down My folks are waiting breathless on the ground

about

Thanks for listening. And even reading the liner notes! I hope you enjoy. I have received an abundance of kindness, love, and wisdom from so many people and experiences in my life, without which I would never have been in a position to make a record at all. Especially Dave Hidek. To all of my family, beloveds, co-conspirators, and future dance partners I say, may whatever love I can send sonically radiating outward into the universe find its way to your ears and warm your hearts, even for a fleeting moment.

credits

released April 27, 2018

All songs written by Guy Russo
Produced by Dave Hidek and Guy Russo
Mastered by Garrett Haines
Piano Tuning by Guy Russo (‘cause I decide what goes in the liner notes)
Recorded at The Church and Treelady Studios
Engineered by Dave Hidek
String Arrangements by Chris Massa, except “Voice of Mature Jenny” by Dave Hidek
Album photography and design by Cory Morton

Personnel:
Guy Russo: acoustic and electric guitars, lead vocals, backup vocals, piano, Rhodes
Dave Hidek: drums, percussion
Jason Rafalak: upright and electric bass
Mariko Reid: backup vocals
Nathan Zoob: backup vocals
Elkhalil Oumallal: improvised vocals to poem by Ibn Arabi (1165-1240) in “Time Away”
Johanna Sö: violin
Simon Cummings: cello
Stephen Weiss: viola
Choir: Christen Russo, Mariko Reid, Nathan Zoob, Shane McLaughlin

2018 LONE CAFTISH MUSIC
ALL SONGS ©℗ ASCAP
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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Guy Russo Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Guy Russo, formerly one half of the duo Broken Fences, is a bearded lad who has been writing, recording, and touring out of Pittsburgh, PA for the better part of his adulthood. Those who crave a fresh and philosophical take on the soul-quenching lyricism that drives modern folk music are welcome to join this piano-tuner-by-day’s community, order a rye whiskey, and stick around to tap a toe or two. ... more

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