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Dust Windows

by Kingsley Flood

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1.
Back in the Back 04:08
lyrics
Boy bleeds on a blacktop roof, the waters are rising, the choppers are mute Boy counts his legs and arms and smiles to the sky and I wonder why Boy half a world away buckles his belt and kills to be saved His pants were never dry, yet he smiles to the sky and I wonder why Oh, you better get better your soul, because the line is forming Be quick or be quiet, cause just like that, you’re back in the back again I am a sinner’s saint, I may not be good, but I ain’t no slave Some men got poisoned tears, do they fear to be loved, or love to be feared? Oh, you better get better your soul, because the line is forming Be quick or be quiet, cause just like that, you’re back in the back again Now I’ve seen the robeman selling psalms. And when the hand shakes, great, but don’t let anybody see you don’t let anybody see cause when you’re down, down, down in the water you’re just like a child. I’d be just like a child. And I’m bound, bound, bound to drown. Better run and hide. Better run and hide. Oh, you better get better your soul, because the line is forming Be quick or be quiet.
2.
Cul de Sac 03:30
lyrics
I met my daddy’s friend Three little girls and a hand to lend I’ve seen him build the deadly drones I’ve seen them eat when the fires blow Right next door is my mama’s pal Olive branch on her bumper and she’s raising hell Builds stickers and signs with her neighbor’s face And a hat passed well makes a hearty plate I’ve got my thumb on the pulse of a nation I got em tagged from across the street (Oh Charlie goes round again) And I see and I write and I hear and I speak (Oh Charlie goes round again) And I hope you check the evening news (Oh Charlie goes round again) Or else I will go hungry soon (Oh Charlie goes round) I’ve got my thumb on the pulse of a nation And you shake your head from across the tracks With money in your wallet and a bone in your back You say “I got ideals” I say “I got my pride” And words are words from across divides I know you see that you’re just like me You sigh, opine But we ride I’ve got my thumb on the pulse of a nation
3.
Cathedral Walls 05:02
lyrics
Down in a town in a house in a room in a bed The new revolution never made it to the pen from the head The shoes in the hallway are tied but they’re not worn The vows in the diary down but they’re not sworn And Charlie’s outside, standing in line, waiting for word from a man in the sky Oh father can you hear me outside cathedral walls? The dust on the window’s a moat for a powerful king From outside a prison from inside freedom will ring Papa’s got pictures of old and he looked like me But they’re stuck in a room in a corner box that you can’t see The hats in the hall are much too small but I’d like to think I can fit in them all Oh father can you hear me outside cathedral walls? Oh Papa are you listening through those damn Wisconsin bells? Call it a prayer, call it a lie, but nobody gets out of life alive Oh father can you hear me outside cathedral walls? Oh Papa are you listening through those damn Wisconsin bells?
4.
Good Enough 03:27
lyrics
I combed my hair real nice tonight I wore cologne and a shave real tight No picture frames, no bracelet chains in mind The buses are lined and lit so warm I pay my fare and glide easily on She sat right next to me and sold her scent for a smile A hat hides headphones, a foot tapping soft A tattoo peeking where her jeans cut off I want her sins but I don’t want her name Her shoes look like ones that you once wore With a broken buckle jingling on the dance floor And when you fell, you blamed them well and I sighed But I ain’t sighing now If it’s good enough for you, well then it’s good enough for him The bus slows, she reaches low Grabs her bag, stands up, grabs the pole And down the stairs, while my hands are bare and clean I wonder if she’ll dance tonight I wonder if her shoes will stay tight I wonder why I’m wondering at all And so I say If it’s good enough for you, well then it’s good enough for him
5.
Stoop Cats 03:29
lyrics
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Well I was born in record time Potty trained when I got home I grew a mustache by age nine And by sixteen I owned a Rolls I don’t want your sympathy, but I only got eight degrees My oh my, you’ve really done it this time Why oh why would you lie about those stoop cats sighing? Now there’s some bridge named after me And for my plaques I ran out of wall And while you wait and have a seat Well I jump and have a ball They say that scrutiny is a classic sign of envy My oh my, you’ve really done it this time Why oh why would you lie about those stoop cats sighing?
6.
Devil's Arms 02:51
lyrics
Well old Ms. Carter looked so pretty in the dime store spending Bens The preacher round the corner’s crying foul, and yeah I understand. Well old Ms. Carter sang so sweetly, her sweetness sent to me. Well I’ve never heard that song but tonight, I’ll revel in her key. Late last night, with sins to spare, I wore my shoes and combed my hair. I felt alright and brought to bear. I’d find my place in line but the devil’s arms got tired. Well Sunday morning they just kept threatening and I said “what a sight!” Preacher’s got a dictionary in his left hand and a wallet in his right. Late last night, with sins to spare, I wore my shoes and combed my hair. I felt alright and brought to bear. I’d find my place in line but the devil’s arms got tired. Well old man preacher I know my history and I hear you hearing me. I saw you sighing, staring, making eyes, so why not go and see? Late last night, with sins to spare, I wore my shoes and combed my hair. I felt alright and brought to bear. I’d find my place in line but the devil’s arms got tired.
7.
A Little Too Old 04:40
lyrics
Well I warned you about Etta James, and her monumental mistakes She never let her lipstick dry She always let em see her cry And I caught you with a camera and curls, and a push pin map of the world Your diary was new and neat Like the sparkles underneath your feet Out of a blue, they were singing a song, and I don’t know why you were singing along. Everyone knows, darling, everyone knows you’re a little too old for that. I once was a man who could cry. I once had wings, I could fly But there’s only one way to eat There’s only one ground for your feet So go on, go on Betty Blue. Maybe the stars will wish upon you Or maybe you’ll be just like me And your wings will turn back into feet Out of a blue, they were singing a song, and I don’t know why you were singing along. Everyone knows, darling, everyone knows you’re a little too old for that. Oh Elaine, won’t you save me.
8.
Roll of the Dice 04:01
lyrics
I’ve known a poor boy for sixteen years I’ve stored up and swallowed sixteen tears. When I shake his hand my eyes never stray, And I check out in the mirror and I’m on my merry way. Well I was born on Beacon on a street you see on tours He was born somewhere else, where, I’m not really sure. But I always trim the curtains, I always trim the fat, I always carry quarters for upside-down hats. Hey, I’ve been right, and I’ve been good, and I’ve sung songs where Jesus has stood You wonder why some weights won’t die? I’ll bet my boots it’s the roll of the dice My daddy’s got six houses down from Edgartown to Rome, My momma’s storing statues that she never thought she’d own. My brother bets on thoroughbreds to win and not to show, I’m having trouble sleeping and I wonder if they know. Cuz I know it ain’t so pretty man, it ain’t so safe and clean, And I do believe I’ve seen em bleed in Time Magazine. And all the doctor’s daughters and all the bankers boys, I wonder if they’ve ever packaged up any joy. Hey, I’ve been right, and I’ve been good, and I’ve sung songs where Jesus has stood You wonder why some weights won’t die? I’ll bet my boots it’s the roll of the dice Upon my introspection, upon scrutinizing seeds, And reckoning a fine line between hobby and need, I wonder when time passes if I’ll ever feel that shame, And I wonder if I will recall that poor boy’s name. I wonder if I will recall that poor boy’s name. I wonder if I will recall that poor boy’s name. I wonder if I will recall that poor boy’s name. Hey, I’ve been right, and I’ve been good, and I’ve sung songs where Jesus has stood You wonder why some weights won’t die? I’ll bet my boots it’s the roll of the dice
9.
Eventually 03:18
lyrics
Did you hear about Ray cursing at the river flow? He left home for an hour seventeen hours ago. He was thirty years young and got caught in the mud, doesn’t wash his feet no more. Oh eventually, what a sight we’ll see. Won’t you wait for me all night? I met Ray once drawing deep from the well. One more, one more round, cause Ray’s got stories to tell. And his eyes light up in the neon glow, wishing he’d made more to sell. Oh eventually, what a sight we’ll see. Won’t you wait for me all night? They say, he died, paying the river’s debt. I think he lied. His body never got wet. A frame in his left hand, a pen in his right, a wallet with dollars to spend. Oh eventually, what a sight I’ll see. Don’t you wait for me no more.
10.
When I Grow Up 04:10
lyrics
The common king of Babylon found his friends with common song. And at night, he writes the thought of few and tucks them deep inside his head. The cordial king, with dirt on hands, cries the tears of the working man. And at night, out of their sight, and out of his mind, his hands are cold and clean. When the kings and queens command their dreams, yes sir I’ve got my own. I’ve seen their eyes, and they’re just like mine. I hope when I grow up, I grow up. The fearless king, upon a fight, pounds his chest and looks behind. And at night, without might, will he be a man? Or will he rise above? When the kings and queens command their dreams, yes sir I’ve got my own. I’ve seen their eyes, and they’re just like mine. I hope when I grow up, I grow up. What’s a boy without his toys? What’s a king without his voice? Jesus left a life to lead, and then he left his name. When the kings and queens command their dreams, yes sir I’ve got my own. I’ve seen their eyes, and they’re just like mine. I hope when I grow up, I grow up.
11.
Just a Midnight Ride 03:46
lyrics
I got me a Cadillac, and it’s real nice. It’s real nice. I keep it out front and not out back. I like the shine. I like the shine. These days my bed is so big, but I like it that way. I like it that way. Her toothbrush still sits in the sink, and there it stays. There it stays. But oh Miss Marie, won’t you come outside? I’ve been around, I know the water’s dry. The key’s in the ignition and it feels real nice. Oh, just a midnight ride. These days my days are free. It didn’t work out, it hardly does. I wait in line for a check or three. I can’t sit down, I won’t stand up. I once had me a puppy dog, but I let him ride. I let him ride. I tried but he never talked. He wouldn’t stay inside. He wouldn’t stay inside. But oh Miss Marie, won’t you come outside? I’ve been around, I know the water’s dry. The key’s in the ignition and it feels real nice. Oh, just a midnight ride. I got me a Cadillac, and it’s real nice. It’s real nice. I keep it out front and not out back. I like the shine. I like the shine.

credits

released April 3, 2010

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Kingsley Flood Boston, Massachusetts

With features in NPR, the Wall Street Journal, and the New York Times, Boston and Washington, DC sextet Kingsley Flood straddles the line between high energy indie rock and introspective folk.

With its "signature high energy" (Rolling Stone), the band has played the main stage at the Newport Folk Fest and has been dubbed "Boston's best live band" (Boston Herald). ... more

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