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Bottleneck

by Martin Rivas

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1.
Back There 02:41
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Back there, another city Back there, another town One less gallon of gas and one mile closer to breaking down I can't be understanding, I can't be sensitive I gave up when I realized what you needed the least was the most that I could give Not far to get some dinner, not far to get a bed One less person to think about One more body in my head Back there, another diner Back there, another thrill The rising sun ends the anguish over the night before The evening before The engine screaming for mercy from the unforgiving road Tires unconscious and bleeding, about to explode Skidmarks like nails on a wall, that sick familiar sound Plunging deep in the ground Digging deep in the ground Endless sleep in the ground That scar is slowly healing That scar will be around If you're in for a penny, you're in for a pound Back there, another exit Back there, another cop If he could tell me where I'm going I might pull over
2.
Part of the Deal 03:36
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Things that I never dreamed Things that I never thought Things that I never said left to rot in my head Places I've never been Courage I've never seen Breathe the breathable air Let the buyer beware Let the buyer be wise Let him think with his eyes Let him think with his ears, every sound that he hears That's for sure I couldn't put it any better Any worse and you wouldn't want to know That's for sure... that's for sure If the going gets tough If the way's ever rough If the road's really bad Not the worse that we've had If it doesn't seem real, it's just part of the deal If supply meets demand, keep your heart in your hand If demand beats supply, keep your head to the sky Walk and talk like a man... be the best that you can That's for sure I couldn't put it any better Any worse and you wouldn't want to know That's for sure... that's for sure
3.
Pray for the Impossible 05:48
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Never been hurt before Never had my heart thrown through a plate-glass door I've only known what's real, and good, and true What I felt for you Where would I go? What would I find if you should ever choose to leave me behind? Is there a song in your heart that you never learned to sing? Has it played on and on? How's it go? Does it inspire you as you inspire me? Teach me the music... I'll sing it to you happily To me it seems simple Can it be done? Spend your life truly loving only one? But there can't be a way Never say impossible But we change every day Never say impossible But I have... so perhaps I need to pray for the impossible now I sometimes ask myself what it is I want I ain't gonna get it 'til I know it... and that's the easy part I've been lucky, in a relatively happy space But is it gonna be that way 'til I reach my final resting place? The question is simple: The love that I found Is it forever gonna be around? There's no way you can know Never say impossible How the wind's gonna blow Never say impossible But it feels good, even so, to pray for the impossible now Late at night when my empty eyes are free to leave their trails of white... to roam And I see that I'm ashamed of all that I might someday be How will you picture me? It's always been simple because it's been real I've never known any other way to feel But there can't be a way Never say impossible But we change every day Never say impossible But I have... so perhaps I need to pray for the impossible now There's no way you can know Never say impossible How the wind's gonna blow Never say impossible But it feels good, even so, to pray for the impossible now My feet are planted firm Never say impossible I'm gonna grab the world... I'm gonna make it turn Never say impossible Touch the stars, and feel 'em burn Pray for the impossible now I believe deep down inside Share your love, and love will come and be your guide That's the point... the point of being alive Anything is possible now
4.
Bottleneck 03:59
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Seeds are planted and children born Birth canals are traveled and traffic lines are bound to form Three lanes into one It's awful crowded... even early on The motor sends you off into existence The motor sends you off and on the run Three lanes into one It isn't easy... it never was Defined by who you know and where you met them Defined by how you talk, not what you say Three lanes into one Might take forever... but you're on your way It wasn't in your plan, the complication This isn't how you thought it was gonna be Three lanes into one is never easy... Nor should it be The past defines the future, as time goes on It bottlenecks the energy you're living on Three lanes into one Won't shed an answer... the questions linger on Won't you tell me, darlin', what you think it means? 'Cause you're the only sanity that I have seen Three lanes into one Can't be good for me... or for anyone Seeds are planted and children born Birth canals are traveled and traffic lines are bound to form Three lanes into one Three lanes into one Three lanes into one
5.
My Little Soul 05:22
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My little soul My little soul gonna fly away My little soul gonna fly away All I've done When I think about the things I've done And that's been done to me Fly away My little soul gonna fly away Are you going somewhere? Are you going somewhere far? Are you going somewhere? Anywhere but where we are? Get me out of here... far away Temptation grabs at me every day I'll get over, I'll get by With every laugh With every cry I'm learning how to fly My little soul My little soul gonna fly away My little soul gonna fly away... fly away.
6.
Real & Good & True 04:12
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If love is real and love is forever, it's awful odd to think That you could fall in love forever over dinner and a drink But love defies you as it draws you deeper ever still And as long as it's the real thing Every dream it will fulfill... And real is how I want it And good is how I want it And true is how I want it How I want it How I want it All I wanted it to be... Was real And all I wanted was you You're all I wanted You're more than what I wanted What I wanted You're all I wanted Ever wanted All I ever did was kneel at my bedside and cry All I ever did was wait 'til the day that I'd die Just a broken man with a nervous laugh 'Til my better half came along Made me whole, made me feel Made me real And real feels so honest It feels so honest Love is honest I'm being honest when I say... It's real So real, and that's how I want it All I wanted You're more... you're so much more than what I wanted So much more You're everything
7.
Flower Store 05:07
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I can see her and all, when she was leaving Douse the forgotten torch and everything she left behind And I, I couldn't wait to see just what she'd plant She'd lay a thousand little seeds and move along in bursts of color Though it's been so long, I'm sure she's staring While she tries to get his name And the blouse she wore, I'm sure she's wearing In a flower store While everything around her might have changed Who says some things can't be the same? She'll walk the streets all dreamy-eyed But still she'll know what's going on Every morning wipe the counter clean Gift-wrap a wink to push aside Was that enough to lead him on? Grab a map and check the nighttime scene When the sun goes down, she'll be there admiring While the blossoms thank the rain But every tree turns brown, and she'll soon be tiring of the same old town I feel her sudden urge to re-arrange But who says some things can't be the same? Sunlight and an open door sign Raindrops on the sill I can understand what she's heading for 'Cause I knew her, I thought I knew her so well I can see her and all, I still can see her A daisy on my windowsill A wildflower on an old back road And I, I'll sit and wait to see just what she'd plant She laid a thousand little seeds I watch them blossom every Spring When the sun goes down, and I'm there admiring While the blossoms thank the rain But every tree turns brown, I'm already tiring of the same old town I feel her sudden urge to re-arrange But who says some things can't be the same?
8.
Release 05:45
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So many words that I can't think to say A song that came written the very first day I laid eyes on my heart, my soul Relinquished control The tension relieved when two halves are made whole The taste of the sun on your skin How many years has it been since we met? The pictures are frayed but I'll never forget Santa Fe, Maui, Galway, Rome We always were home There'll never be days enough, we've been clearly shown Grateful for every hour together we've known But my, how the time sure has flown... My heart holds a photograph of you and of me The mirror says different, but we'll always be Thirty-one, Twenty-five, Sixteen And all in between The joy which we've lived makes a passionate scene Describe for the millionth time the places we've seen The time with you has justified everything
9.
What a Guy 04:07
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No one would visit him there No one would visit him anywhere No one would write or call And he didn't care Nails and bones and frizzy hair Skin and nipples extremely fair All the reason to get chased off the beach in his underwear On his legs he could barely stand A kid could pick him up with one hand Throw him and Lord only knows where he would land What a guy What a guy to try and be like What a guy to try and be like I wanna be, I wanna be, I wanna be like that guy The casino is packed What kind of person would he attract with a massive pile of chips He keeps 'em neatly stacked Pulls some clay from off his rack Plays the Yo and eases back Elevens rolling for hours and people are screaming He barely reacts What a guy What a guy to try and be like What a guy to try and be like I wanna be, I wanna be, I wanna be like that guy What a guy What a guy to try and be like What a guy to try and be like I wanna be, I wanna be, I wanna be like that guy It's worth a try No one would look at his face No one would look at him anyplace Like he was from undersea or outer space Look at that face! What a guy What a guy to try and be like What a guy to try and be like I wanna be, I wanna be, I wanna be like that guy What a guy What a guy to try and be like What a guy to try and be like I wanna be, I wanna be, I wanna be like that guy
10.
Star Notes 04:42
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Star notes, star notes Get me as many as you can Can't you see, I'm a sucker for a special kind of money Yes, I'm a star-note-loving man Painting the town The night isn't ending We're knocking them down We're getting cross-eyed at the bar because we're spending Star notes, star notes Get me as many as you can (and we've got Spaniards in the band!) Notas estrellas, notas estrellitas ¡Deme tanto como usted puede! The Grim Reaper sees it isn't going with you when you're life is ending The bankers agree So now they're giving them away instead of lending Star notes, star notes Get me as many (notas estrellas) Get me as many (notas estrellas) 'Cause I'm a star-note-loving man

about

"Martin Rivas just needs to be heard!" - bbqchickenrobot.com

(from 2002): This first release by a former member of Serious Pilgrim has got a wide array of pop hooks, the emotional weight of alt-country, and a period piece or two thrown in to boot!

credits

released February 1, 2002

All songs written by Martin Rivas. All noises by Martin Rivas.

©2002 Martin Rivas (BMI). All rights reserved.

Recorded 9/2000 - 10/2001 at home, on a Korg D-16 Digital Music Workstation lent to me by Rob Surace and Andy Alonso (thanks a lot, guys).

Bonus tracks, lyrics, and plenty more available at www.martinrivas.net

Mart photo: Gene Pierce.

Special thanks: Patti Landy, Betty's Twisted Acres, The Rivas, Landy, Rogers and Estrella families, Vincenzo Campisi, Frank Calabro, James P. Walsh, Tombie McGivney

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Martin Rivas New York, New York

Brooklyn native Martin Rivas has been a stalwart participant and supporter of NYC-based underground music since his days in early-90s critical darlings & CBGB regulars Serious Pilgrim. Martin’s music has always taken the listener on a sonic journey that feels new and familiar; now that fatherhood has introduced him to his greatest passion, his 7th album is certain to take some compelling twists. ... more

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